Pope Francis' funeral: What to expect on April 26
The funeral for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.
In the lead-up to the ceremony, his body is lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica, where mourners are participating in lengthy queues to pay their final respects. The public viewing will continue until April 25 at 7 p.m. (Vatican time).
Filipino Cardinal Jose Advincula has joined Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David at the Vatican, as they prepare for the conclave.
Here's a guide on what to expect during the funeral and where to watch it.
What to expect
At his funeral on Saturday, Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re will lead the funeral Mass. Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests around the world are expected to join the service.
Following the last public viewing on April 25, the Vatican said that Pope Francis’ casket would be sealed in the evening. His last resting place will be located near the altar of Saint Francis in the side nave of Santa Maria Maggiore, which also holds the tombs of seven popes.
His funeral day will also begin the novemdiales, or the nine days of mourning.
His marble tombstone will bear only the inscription "Franciscus"—the pope's name in Latin—it will not have any ornamentation following his wish in his last will.
Strict security protocols will be in place, as more than 200,000 people, including a long list of world leaders, are expected to attend the funeral.
Where to watch
PhilSTAR L!fe will have a livestream of the event on our official YouTube channel, as well as live updates on our site and social media pages on Facebook, X, and Threads on Saturday at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. Philippine time).
Vatican News, the official news outlet of the Holy See, will also broadcast the event on its official YouTube channel. For cable users, you can watch the broadcast on CNN, BBC News, and ABC News.
Who's attending
Among those included in the long list of world leaders attending are Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his First Lady, Liza Marcos. Marcos declared a national mourning period over the Pope’s death until April 26.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Britain's Prince William, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, will also be at the event.
Argentina’s president Javier Milei, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, will be at the funeral with his wife.
Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prime Minister Bart De Wever will attend. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also be in attendance.
Other confirmed attendees include Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok, Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker, and Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar with Prime Minister Robert Golob.
The presidents of all three Baltic states will attend: Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics of Latvia, and Alar Karis of Estonia.
European Union’s Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are also among the mourners at the funeral.
Presidents from countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Cape Verde, and Poland, and leaders from European states, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia, confirmed their attendance.
Following his funeral, a conclave will be held where 135 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next Pope. More details, including the exact date, have yet to be announced.
