The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will be laid to rest this Saturday in a funeral expected to draw world leaders, clergy, and mourners from across the globe.
Francis, who was 88, died on Monday following a stroke and cardiac arrest. The news, delivered by Vatican officials, has triggered an outpouring of tributes for a pope who defied tradition, challenged power, and gave voice to the poor.
His funeral will be held in St. Peter’s Square at 10:00 a.m. local time. The ceremony, led by Roman Catholic cardinals, is expected to reflect the simplicity and humility that defined his papacy.
A Pontiff of Firsts
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis became the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to lead the Church. His election in 2013 was seen as a break from centuries of European dominance in the Vatican.
Over the next 12 years, he sought to modernise the Church, taking strong stances on climate change, economic inequality, and clerical abuse—topics that often put him at odds with traditionalists.
“He was a man of the people,” said Father Marco Testa, a priest at a parish in Trastevere. “He spoke plainly, and he made the Church feel closer to ordinary lives.”
Francis had recently returned from a hospital stay for pneumonia and made a public appearance on Easter Sunday. Though visibly frail, Vatican aides had said he was in good spirits.
A Final Wish
Breaking from centuries of custom, Pope Francis had requested to be buried not in the grand tombs of St. Peter’s Basilica, but in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major—one of Rome’s oldest churches and a place of special devotion for him.
The Vatican released photos on Tuesday showing Francis lying in an open casket at the chapel in the Santa Marta residence, where he had chosen to live instead of the Apostolic Palace. Swiss Guards stood solemnly at attention.
Cardinals will escort his body to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning. From then until Friday, the public will be allowed to pay their respects.
Who’s Coming to Rome
Among the dignitaries expected in Rome are U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania. Trump had a famously tense relationship with Francis, particularly over immigration, but called him “a spiritual force” in a statement on Monday.
Also planning to attend are Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The Pope was a tireless voice for peace,” said a spokesperson from the Ukrainian government. “We honour him for his courage.”
A Church in Transition
With Francis’s passing, the Church enters the “sede vacante”—the vacant seat of St. Peter. Ancient rituals are now underway, including the breaking of the Fisherman’s Ring, a sign that no one can act in the Pope’s name.
All cardinals currently in Rome met on Tuesday to organise the funeral and begin preparations for the conclave—the secret gathering where a new pope is elected. That process is expected to begin around 6 May.
Some 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Many were appointed by Francis himself, raising expectations—but not certainty—that the next pope could follow in his reformist footsteps.
“There is no clear favourite,” said Giovanna Politi, a Church historian in Rome. “The cardinals will be weighing not just policy, but character, vision, and global appeal.”
A Lasting Legacy
Francis leaves behind a deeply reshaped Church—one more attuned to the struggles of the modern world, but still deeply divided over how to respond.
He opened doors to groups long on the margins of Church life. He reformed finances and held bishops to account. Yet he faced criticism for not going far enough, especially in holding clergy accountable for abuse.
Still, many will remember him less for Vatican policy and more for personal gestures—his embrace of the homeless, his visits to war zones, his refusal to live in grandeur.
“He made faith feel real,” said Sister Lucia Mendez, who works with migrants in Sicily. “Not a show, not a set of rules. Just love in action.”
As the Church now turns its gaze to what comes next, the world pauses to honour a pope who chose humility over hierarchy—and changed the tone of the papacy forever.
