Pope Francis' Funeral Scheduled for April 26, 2025

Pope Francis died at age 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time at St. Peter's Basilica, according to the Vatican. His body, currently resting in a casket at his Santa Marta residence, will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, where he will lie in state for public viewing until the funeral. The College of Cardinals met shortly after his death to set these arrangements and to begin preparations for the upcoming conclave to elect his successor. The funeral will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, with world leaders and faithful expected to attend. Following the funeral, a nine-day mourning period will be observed, after which the conclave will commence. Notably, Pope Francis will be buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, diverging from the tradition of Vatican burials.