Pope Francis to Be Buried Saturday: What to Expect from the Funeral Rites
On Saturday, April 26, Pope Francis will be buried outside the Vatican, becoming the first Pope to do so since the 17th century. According to his wishes, the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, who died on Easter Monday, will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a 5th-century church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The last Pope to be buried there was Pope Clement VIII, 356 years ago, in 1605.
Papal funerals are often elaborate ceremonies, particularly in earlier centuries. While over the years the rite has been simplified, Pope Francis, before his death, approved even simpler elements for papal funerals.
As per custom, the Pope’s funeral will take place in three parts, known as Stations. This is according to Joanne M. Pierce, professor emerita of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross.
Body Preparation: First Station
The first phase is the confirmation of the Pope’s death by medical experts. This is carried out at the Pope’s private chapel, although historically, the medical examination was conducted at the bedside.
After the confirmation, the Pope’s Camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will formally announce the Pope’s death. The Camerlengo is also responsible for arranging the burial and administering the Vatican until a new Pope is elected.
Another important ritual at this stage is the defacing of the Pope’s ring. Each Pope wears a customized ring engraved with the image of a man fishing from a boat, along with the Pope’s name. This symbolizes the biblical account in which Jesus called Peter to follow him and become a fisher of men.
Viewing of the Body: Second Station
In reflection of the Pope’s humble role as pastor and servant, and not as a head of state, the body of Pope Francis will be dressed in a white cassock and red vestments. It will be placed in a wooden coffin and carried in procession to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, which will last three days. According to the Holy See Press Office, public viewing of the Pope will start on Wednesday, April 23. This tradition, which is expected to attract thousands of mourners during the three days, will commence after the Altar of the Confession and the Liturgy of the Word, which will be presided over by the Cardinal Camerlengo.
Professor Pierce noted that historically, Popes were buried in three coffins—cypress, lead, and elm. Two of these contain special documents about the Pope’s pontificate (his reign as Roman Pontiff), while the first coffin holds three bags of coins: gold, silver, and copper.
However, on Saturday, Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a single coffin made of oak. It will be the first time a Pope is buried in just one coffin.
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A Burial: Third Station
Only seven Popes have been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, and on Saturday, Pope Francis will become the eighth. According to the Holy See Press Office, the funeral service of the late Pope Francis will commence at 10:00 a.m. and will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals.
World leaders across the globe are expected to attend the burial, including Donald Trump, who had disagreements with the Pope on various occasions. Trump revealed that he and his wife, Melania, will fly to Rome for the service. Other heads of state expected to attend include Javier Milei, president of Argentina—Pope Francis’s country of origin—Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Before the coffin is placed in its final location inside the church, a few prayers will be said at the Holy Water stoup. The church will then be opened to the public, where Catholics are expected to visit for prayer and meditation.
