Pope Francis funeral arrangements have been started at the Vatican following his unexpected death on Monday at 88 years. He had died from a stroke and cardiac arrest just weeks following his recovery from double pneumonia. The Vatican announced his funeral would be held Saturday at 10 a.m. local time at St. Peter’s Square.
The body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 AM to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of… pic.twitter.com/ObGjYl7Bi7
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 22, 2025
Cardinals convened on Tuesday morning to arrange funeral rituals and prepare to hold a conclave to pick his successor. The Vatican published photos of Francis lying in state in Santa Marta, where he resided during his papacy. Heads of state such as Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Volodymyr Zelensky are likely to be present for the funeral.
A departure from tradition also surrounds his burial wishes—Francis asked not to be buried at St. Peter’s Basilica but in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The Church is now at a pivotal moment, with no obvious candidate for the papacy and Francis having left behind a legacy of reform and opposition to conservative pressure.
Ancient Rituals Bear a Modern Legacy
The Vatican shortly initiated customary rituals following a pope’s death. Francis “Fisherman’s Ring” and lead seal were broken by officials to keep them from being used fraudulently. Swiss Guards flanked his coffin in Santa Marta. Cardinals gathered at their first General Congregation at 9 a.m. to organize funeral arrangements.
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell presides over the rite of the ascertainment of death and the placement of the late Pope Francis’ body in the coffin, which took place on Monday evening in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/63aPKTW9nD
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 22, 2025
Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni highlighted prayer as the core during this time of transition. The funeral can be held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, Vatican officials confirmed.
In his last will, Pope Francis requested burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major rather than the usual St. Peter’s Basilica. He had also avoided the papal palace in 2013, opting for a simple apartment in Santa Marta. His body could be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica by Wednesday for public veneration.
Global Leaders to Attend Pope’s Funeral
US President Donald Trump, who clashed with Francis on immigration, confirmed his attendance alongside other global leaders.
The presence of Argentine President Javier Milei adds emotional weight, as Francis was born in Buenos Aires. Ukrainian President Zelensky will also attend, reflecting Francis’ global political relevance.
Conclave Looms, But No Frontrunner Yet
The conclave to choose the next pope will come after May 6. Approximately 135 cardinal electors—80% of whom were appointed by Francis—will attend. That raises the likelihood of a progressive successor but does not make one inevitable.
Discussions in the days ahead will decide the Church’s path. The electors, most of whom are obscure beyond their localities, will define the character they want the next pope to have through day-to-day deliberations.
A Reformist Who Shook the Church
Francis inherited a scandal-plagued Church. He struggled to reform the Vatican bureaucracy and fought corruption. Although he was slow to tackle clerical abuse, he finally tackled it outright. He championed the inclusion of LGBTQ persons and stood up for migrants. But traditionalists repeatedly pushed back, accusing him of dismantling Church values.
Francis’ untimely death leaves the Church at a crossroads. His reformist vision transformed the way many perceived the papacy. Today, behind closed doors, cardinals gather to decide the fate of the Catholic Church. Will it follow Francis’ reformist agenda or return to conservative beginnings?
