Pope Francis Funeral Updates: Hundreds of thousands of mourners from around the world, including heads of state and royalty, gathered on Saturday to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. He had passed away on Easter Monday. In a break from centuries-old tradition, the Pope will be laid to rest not within the Vatican, but at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, located just outside the city walls of Rome.
Pope Francis to be laid to rest outside of Vatican
Departing from the custom of burying Popes beneath St Peter’s Basilica, Francis had personally requested a “simple” burial a few kilometers away from the Vatican.
The funeral mass is scheduled to begin at 10 am local time (1:30 pm IST) and is expected to conclude by 11:45 am (3:15 pm IST).
Over the past three days, more than 250,000 visitors have flocked to the Vatican to pay their respects before public viewing ended on Friday and the Pope’s coffin was sealed.
Pope Francis to be laid to rest outside of Vatican (Photo: @nanana365media/X)
Several prominent World Leaders to attend Pope’s Funeral
The final farewell will draw a host of world leaders—some of whom had differed with the Pope on various global issues—onto a single platform.
Among the prominent figures attending are US President Donald Trump, Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In total, 54 heads of state and 12 reigning royals are expected to attend.
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The passing of the first Latin American Pope has triggered ancient funeral rites, some of which date back over 2,000 years.
Pope Francis had attended Easter Ceremony just a day before his death
Pope Francis, 88, died of a stroke while recovering from double pneumonia. Despite medical advice to avoid public appearances, he made a surprise wheelchair-bound visit to greet followers on Easter Sunday, just one day before his death.
In a world grappling with numerous conflicts, his final message emphasized global peace, freedom of religion, and the right to express oneself.
His last post on the social media platform X, published less than 24 hours before his passing, read:
“Christ is risen! This proclamation contains the entire meaning of our existence, which is not made for death but for life.”
