VATICAN CITY — The funeral for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, Roman Catholic cardinals announced Tuesday, setting in motion a series of historic rites that mark the end of his 12-year papacy and the beginning of a new chapter for the Roman Catholic Church. The service is expected to draw numerous world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
Francis, who died early Monday at age 88 following a cerebral stroke and cardiac arrest, will be laid to rest following a public ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican confirmed the time and location after a conclave of senior cardinals convened Tuesday to finalize funeral arrangements and plan the interregnum—the period between popes.
The late pontiff’s sudden death has reverberated across the globe, ending a transformative and sometimes controversial papacy. Known as the first pope from Latin America, Francis reshaped the modern Church with his progressive stance on social justice, climate change, and LGBTQ inclusion—frequently drawing ire from conservative factions within the Vatican hierarchy.
The Vatican released images Tuesday of Francis’s body lying in repose at the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, his longtime residence within Vatican City. Clad in traditional vestments, the late pope rests in a wooden coffin flanked by solemn Swiss Guards. His remains will be moved into St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. Wednesday (0700 GMT), where the faithful will be given the opportunity to pay their last respects.
Among the dignitaries expected to attend the funeral are President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, according to the White House. President Javier Milei of Argentina, the pope’s homeland, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have also confirmed plans to attend, according to sources close to their offices.
In keeping with centuries-old Vatican tradition, Pope Francis’s death has triggered the ceremonial destruction of his “Fisherman’s Ring” and lead seal, symbols of papal authority, to prevent their misuse. On Tuesday, all cardinals present in Rome were summoned to a closed-door meeting to coordinate the transition of power and maintain Church operations ahead of the papal conclave.
While the conclave to elect Francis’s successor will not begin until at least May 6, Vatican observers note the electoral process is shrouded in secrecy and can span several days. A total of 135 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 are eligible to cast votes, gathering inside the Sistine Chapel to conduct multiple ballots until a two-thirds majority is reached. The appearance of white smoke from the chapel’s chimney will signal to the world that a new pope has been chosen.
There is currently no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis. While the outgoing pontiff appointed nearly 80 percent of the cardinals eligible to vote, increasing the chances of a like-minded successor, analysts caution that ideological continuity is not guaranteed.
In a departure from recent papal tradition, Pope Francis requested to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome rather than in the crypts beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, where many of his predecessors rest. His final testament, released posthumously by the Vatican on Monday, emphasized humility, service, and a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
During his papacy, Francis undertook sweeping reforms of the Vatican’s administrative apparatus, pushed for financial transparency, and moved—albeit slowly—to confront clergy sexual abuse scandals that had plagued the Church for decades. He often clashed with traditionalists who viewed his positions as too progressive or divisive.
Still, Francis remained widely admired for his compassionate leadership style and relentless focus on society’s most vulnerable. His decision to reside in the modest Casa Santa Marta instead of the apostolic palace was emblematic of his break with tradition and preference for a simpler, more accessible papacy.
As Vatican employees began filing into the residence late Monday to offer personal farewells, the Church braced for a monumental transition in spiritual leadership for its 1.4 billion followers worldwide.
