How the funeral of Pope Francis will take place: the times, the heads of state present and the itinerary of the procession

« With dignity, but like every Christian ». This is one of the last will expressed by Pope Francis On his burial, « marrying » what was the style of his pontificate: humble and close to the last. The pontiff « who came from the end of the world », disappeared on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88, After his death – as requested by him – he was exhibited in San Pietro In a simple coffin of zinc inside another of wood, remained open in the three days of the ostentation (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with prolonged times to allow the maximum influx of pilgrims and faithful). Bergoglio has, in fact, still expressed in life The desire to give up the traditional catafalconovercoming the ancient tradition of the three overlapping coffins in cypress, lead and oak.

The funeral
On Saturday 26 April at 10 his funeral will be held: without a pomp, organized in the complex in three stations, indicated in the new edition of theOrdo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificisis approved by Francesco himself on 29 April 2024: the rite of the observation of death in the private chapel of the Pope house; the translation of the body in San Pietro, the tribute of the faithful and the closure of the coffin; The rite of the funeral and the burial.

The function
The funeral will be celebrated by the cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the Cardinals and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Bishops and emeritus president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. As for John Paul II and Benedict XVI, The function will be held in the Sagrato of San Pietro, where for the occasion several maxi-media will also be set up.

A curiosity? Those of John Paul IIwho died on the evening of April 2, 2005, were the first « modern » funeral of a pontiff: they took place with a solemn, but sober rite and for the first time they were celebrated not inside the Basilica but in the square. The funeral of Benedict XVIwho disappeared from emeritus on 31 December 2022, almost ten years after the renunciation of the pontificate, were celebrated by Bergoglio on January 5. The funeral mass for Francesco will follow theLast commendatio and the Valenticiothe blessings that precede the burial of the pontiff: the first is a prayer that entrusts the earth the deadly body of the deceased; The second is the extreme greeting.

« Will be The Argentine delegation Led by President Javier Milei in the front row at the funeral, « said the director of the press room of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni. The delegations of the heads of state will be to the right of the altar. After Argentina there will be Italy.

The funeral procession
The funeral procession, at the end of the funeral, from San Pietro to Santa Maria Maggiore, It will not pass through St. Peter’s Square. The procession will come out of the Perugino door and then follow the path indicated by the police headquarters. A travel time of about half an hour is expected.

Leaders in Rome
The farewell to the Pope recalled in Rome numerous leaders and representatives from all over the world: From the President of the United States Donald Trump to the French homologous Emmanuel Macron, from Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky to the leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. «At the moment there are 182 foreign delegations, of which half foresee the presence of heads of state or government. We have estimated at the moment that between direct escort and staff personnel who ensure roads, at least a thousand people dedicated to this tasks, « said the Minister of the Interior, Matteo planted.

The burial
Finally, it is expected the translation of the coffin from the Basilica of San Pietro to the place of burial, which by the testamentary will of Bergoglio is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, between the Paolina chapel, where the icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romaniand the Sforza chapel. Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the rite of burial. The funeral procession from Square San Pietro to Santa Maria Maggiore – of six kilometers – will cross The streets of the Center of Rome « Carefully monitored » by the police, passing through some symbolic places of the capital.

The « novediale »
As per tradition at the funeral follows The « novedial », a period of nine days of celebrations in the Vatican Basilica. Being the death of a reigning pope, it will then be the College of Cardinals a convene the conclave For the election of the successor, « Not before fifteen days and no more than twenty from the beginning of the vacant office, except exceptions ».