Pope Francis’ Funeral Mass to Begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square
The funeral Mass for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, starting at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the ceremony, which will conclude with the transfer of the late pontiff’s coffin to Saint Mary Major, where he will be buried.
About 250 cardinals, numerous bishops, priests, and religious sisters and brothers are expected to attend the service. The late Pope’s wooden and zinc coffin, sealed on the evening of Friday, April 25, will be placed in front of the altar, facing the massive crowd expected to gather from across the globe. This diverse audience represents Pope Francis’ vision of the Church—one that embraces “everyone, everyone, everyone,” as he often proclaimed.
First Mass of the Novemdiales As part of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the funeral Mass will mark the first of nine daily Masses held at St. Peter’s through Sunday, May 4. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy.
Cardinals will be distinguished from bishops by their purple liturgical attire and white damask miters, while bishops will wear plain white miters. The Mass will include readings from the Acts of the Apostles, the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians, and the Gospel according to John. The homily, delivered by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will be followed by the prayers of the faithful in French, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, German, and Chinese. This will be followed by the Eucharistic liturgy, Holy Communion, and the Rite of Final Commendation.
The Sistine Chapel Choir will accompany the Mass, performing for Pope Francis one final time.
The Procession to Saint Mary Major Following the Mass, in accordance with the spiritual wishes of Pope Francis, the coffin will be transported to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The funeral procession will cover approximately four kilometers through the streets of Rome, allowing the faithful to bid farewell along a route the Pope often took to pray before the iconic image of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani. This route was part of his regular visits before and after each of his 47 apostolic journeys, and even after his hospital stays in February and March.
Upon arrival at Saint Mary Major, the coffin will be welcomed by a group of poor and marginalized people—those who always held a special place in Pope Francis’ heart. They will give their final tribute before the coffin is carried to the altar for private burial.
The Final Tribute Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell will mark the pontiff’s coffin with his seal, along with those of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, and the Liberian Chapter. The remains of Pope Francis will be laid to rest in the tomb and sprinkled with holy water. After the Regina Cæli prayer, the notary of the Liberian Chapter will draft the official act confirming the burial, which will then be read aloud and signed by the Camerlengo, the Regent of the Papal Household, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and the notary.
The ceremony is expected to conclude around 2:00 PM
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Global Audience and Media Coverage Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be broadcast worldwide, with English commentary available on the Vatican News website, Vatican Media Facebook page, and Vatican Media YouTube channel.
Delegations from over 130 countries and international organizations are anticipated to attend, including 12 reigning monarchs, 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government, and numerous high-ranking officials. More than 4,000 journalists have been accredited by the Holy See to cover the event.