Pope Francis’ Funeral Details Revealed Along With First Photos of Late Pontiff in Open Coffin

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Pope Francis, who sadly passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, will be interred this Saturday (April 26) at 10:00 AM local time in St. Peter’s Square, right before St. Peter’s Basilica within Vatican City.

The esteemed Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, currently serving as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the ceremony, and he will also recite the Last Commendation and Farewell, which is an ancient Latin term denoting the final rituals and prayers conducted at a Pope’s funeral.

Following the funeral service, Pope Francis’ remains will be moved to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome for his burial. Unlike most popes within the past century, he has chosen not to be interred at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. In fact, as early as 2023, he expressed a desire to be buried beside an image of the Virgin Mary within Saint Mary Major, rather than the Vatican.

Multiple influential global figures are anticipated to grace the funeral, with notable attendees such as President Donald J. Trump and his wife Melania Trump, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to be present.

I’ve been absolutely captivated by the recent release of the first images from the Vatican, showing our beloved Pope, now resting in peace, within the Chapel of Santa Marta – his cherished home at the Vatican. In these sacred photos, he stands resplendent in a vibrant red robe, embodying the majesty of his office with the papal mitre gracefully perched upon his head, and a humble rosary clasped tightly within his hands.

Earlier today, it was officially announced that the former Pope had experienced a brain stroke which caused him to fall into a coma and ultimately suffer from a heart and circulatory system failure that proved to be irreversible. Additionally, he had previously dealt with an acute respiratory crisis due to double pneumonia infected with multiple bacteria, chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes.

News has emerged that Francis, who had recently left the hospital after a prolonged fight against double pneumonia as well as other health complications, passed away. He was seen publicly on Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square for a short while.

The former leader of the Catholic Church, also the ruler of Vatican City State, had a lengthy history of health issues. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with pleurisy and underwent surgery to remove a portion of one of his lungs in Argentina. Since early 2023, he has been dealing with recurring bouts of influenza.

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2025-04-22 15:22