Pope Francis’ Funeral Marks End of an Era for the Catholic Church
Pope Francis’ remarkable papacy will be commemorated on Saturday with a funeral mass at St. Peter’s Square, attended by an array of global leaders, including royal family members, presidents, and prime ministers, alongside a crowd of devoted mourners.
Among the attendees will be U.S. President Donald Trump, who has often clashed with Pope Francis over differing views on immigration. Over 150 countries are expected to be represented at the service.
The pope, who passed away on Monday at 88 after suffering a stroke, will be remembered with a carefully arranged period of mourning, filled with age-old rituals, splendor, and reverence. His death has marked the beginning of a carefully planned transition period for the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic community.
In the days leading up to the funeral, approximately 250,000 people have paid their respects, filing past his coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica. On Saturday, his casket will be carried through the grand doors of the basilica for the outdoor service, which will begin at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT). A gathering of foreign dignitaries will sit on one side of the colonnade, while red-hatted cardinals fill the opposite seats.
Alongside President Trump, leaders from Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, Poland, and Ukraine will attend, along with British and New Zealand prime ministers and various European royals.
The Vatican anticipates that around 250,000 mourners will fill the area outside St. Peter’s Basilica to witness the ceremony, which will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a 91-year-old Italian prelate.
As the first pope from outside Europe in nearly 13 centuries, Pope Francis worked to reform the Catholic Church, advocating for the poor, marginalized groups, and environmental protection. However, his calls for transparency and peace were often met with resistance, particularly from traditionalist factions within the Church.
The funeral service itself reflects the pope’s desire for simplicity, a break from the grandiose traditions often associated with papal funerals. His service will be shorter, lasting 90 minutes, compared to the three-hour ceremony for Pope John Paul II in 2005. In a break from centuries-old customs, Pope Francis’ body is laid in a simple, zinc-lined wooden coffin, as opposed to the traditional triple-casket arrangement.
Pope Francis will also be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, with his final resting place chosen at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from St. Peter’s. His tomb will feature a simple inscription of his name, “Franciscus,” and a reproduction of his humble iron cross.
Security for the event is extraordinary, with Italy closing airspace and deploying additional forces, including anti-aircraft missiles and patrol boats, to ensure the safety of the service. The security measures reflect the scale of the occasion, rivaling those seen during the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
Following the burial, attention will shift to the process of selecting a new pope. The conclave to elect the successor is not expected to start before May 6, allowing cardinals time to meet and discuss the future direction of the Church, which faces numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and ideological divides.
