Pope Francis Funeral Set for April 26: A Simple, Symbolic Goodbye in Vatican City
VATICAN CITY — April 23, 2025
Pope Francis will be laid to rest this Saturday, April 26, in a solemn ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, beginning at 10 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT). The funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands, including world leaders, diplomats, and devoted Catholics from around the world.
In keeping with his wish to be remembered as a “disciple of Christ,” not a worldly ruler, Pope Francis altered papal burial rites in 2024 to reflect humility and simplicity. Unlike past popes who were buried in three nested coffins, Francis will rest in a single wooden coffin.
Among the dignitaries confirmed to attend are U.S. President Donald Trump, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend, a delegation from China is expected. Italy anticipates over 200,000 foreign visitors, although turnout may surpass that number.
A Global Farewell
The service will be conducted in multiple languages to reflect the Catholic Church’s global reach. Latin and Italian will be used for the primary prayers, while Scripture readings will be delivered in Italian, Spanish, and English. Additional prayers will be offered in languages such as Arabic, Polish, and Chinese.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral mass. The ceremony will emphasize the pope’s role as shepherd and pastor, avoiding grand titles like “Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church.”
A Burial Like No Other
Following the funeral, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major—a church he often visited. He will be the first pope interred there since the 1600s and the first in over a century to be buried outside Vatican grounds.
In his will, Francis requested a modest grave, simply inscribed Franciscus. His humble final resting place mirrors the life he lived—marked by compassion, reform, and a commitment to a less ostentatious Church.
