Funeral to happen on Saturday, the Vatican confirms
The Vatican has simply confirmed that Pope Francis’s funeral can be held on Saturday at 10am native time, Reuters reported.
In line with a brief assertion, the funeral liturgy in St Peter’s sq. can be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the School of Cardinals.
Following the liturgy, the coffin can be taken into St Peter’s Basilica, after which to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, as requested by Francis.
Key occasions
What we all know in regards to the funeral thus far – abstract
Angela Giuffrida
If you’re becoming a member of us now, the funeral of Pope Francis can be held on Saturday at St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican has mentioned.
The mass will start at 10am native time and can be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the faculty of cardinals.
The Vatican additionally mentioned the pope’s coffin could be taken to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9am, the place it is going to stay till the night time earlier than the funeral, to permit the general public to pay their respects.
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Outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz is the newest nationwide chief to verify his plans to attend the funeral on Saturday.
Polish president Andrzej Duda will even attend and proposed to declare a day of nationwide mourning on Saturday, the day of the funeral.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni is predicted to attend the funeral, with the Italian media reporting that she cancelled her pre-planned engagements in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan this weekend to remain in Rome.
No Putin, however Argentina’s Milei, Brazil’s Lula, and EU’s von der Leyen to attend funeral
Talking in regards to the visitor record for the funeral this Saturday, the Kremlin has simply confirmed that Russian president Vladimir Putin won’t attend the service.
However we now have had extra confirmations on high of Trump, Macron and Zelenskyy that I reported on earlier, with Argentinian president Javier Milei, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen amongst these saying they plan to attend.
Vatican energy wrestle: will an ‘anti-Francis’ pope emerge from conclave?
The demise of Pope Francis will throw into sharp reduction the internecine energy wrestle that has been a trademark of his papacy.
Within the coming days, a ferocious battle for the way forward for the church can be performed out with the best of stakes throughout the sanctity of the Sistine Chapel.
There are greater than 250 cardinals in complete, however these over the age of 80 are ineligible to participate within the conclave. That leaves 135 eligible cardinals, who will start making their technique to Rome within the coming days.
Within the 12 years after Francis turned pope, he appointed about 110 of these eligible, casting his internet vast throughout the globe. Some Vatican observers have prompt he stacked the conclave in favour of a successor more likely to embrace his outlook and proceed his work.
The appointments make it “difficult for an ‘anti-Francis’ pope to emerge”, mentioned Iacopo Scaramuzzi, a Vatican journalist with La Repubblica newspaper and writer of the e book Tango Vaticano. La Chiesa al Tempo di Francesco (Vatican Tango. The Church within the Time of Francis).
“But it doesn’t mean this group is unanimous and cohesive, or that they have the same ideas. Almost all the cardinals he has chosen are pastors from great dioceses around the world.” There have been conservatives in addition to progressives amongst them, Scaramuzzi added.
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Particulars of coffin procession on Wednesday
The ceremony of transferring the coffin from Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica will begin 9am native time on Wednesday, a be aware from the Vatican spelling out the main points of the operation mentioned.
After a second of prayer, the procession will go by Piazza Santa Marta and Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani, exit into St. Peter’s Sq. and enter the Basilica by the central door.
After the liturgy within the Basilica, pilgrims from around the globe can be allowed to go to to pay their final tributes to Francis.
The prayers and the liturgy can be led by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the church, who introduced Francis’s demise on Monday.
China’s overseas ministry expressed condolences over the demise of Pope Francis, however mentioned it had no info to share on who would possibly attend the funeral, Reuters reported.
China and the Vatican have lately maintained constructive contact and carried out helpful exchanges, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun informed an everyday information briefing in Beijing.
The Vatican additionally confirmed that Pope Francis’s coffin can be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, the place it is going to keep till the funeral.
It is going to be taken there from the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, pictured within the earlier picture.
Funeral to happen on Saturday, the Vatican confirms
The Vatican has simply confirmed that Pope Francis’s funeral can be held on Saturday at 10am native time, Reuters reported.
In line with a brief assertion, the funeral liturgy in St Peter’s sq. can be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the School of Cardinals.
Following the liturgy, the coffin can be taken into St Peter’s Basilica, after which to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, as requested by Francis.
Vatican releases pictures of Francis in open coffin
The Vatican has launched first photos exhibiting Francis in open coffin through the ceremony of certification of demise that happened within the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican final night time.
Vatican Information reported that “during the rite, the declaration of death was read aloud. The act was validated by Cardinal Farrell, and the ceremony lasted just under an hour.”
We’re anticipating to listen to extra about when the coffin can be taken for public viewing in Saint Peter’s Basilica sooner or later at the moment.
How will the following pope be chosen?
Harriet Sherwood
The subsequent pope can be chosen by the School of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their technique to Rome within the subsequent few days for the conclave. The title comes from the Latin cum clave, which means “with key”, indicating the closed strategy of electing a pope.

There are greater than 250 cardinals from greater than 90 nations, however solely about 135 are cardinal electors (these over the age of 80 are excluded). About 110 of the cardinal electors have been chosen by Francis previously 10 years and largely mirror his imaginative and prescient of a extra inclusive church.
As soon as the cardinals are assembled in Rome, normally 15-20 days after the pope’s demise, they collect beneath Michelangelo’s magnificent painted ceiling within the Sistine Chapel to start their deliberations. After the phrases additional omnes – everybody out – are declared, referring to all however voting cardinals and a handful of officers and medical doctors, the doorways are locked.
The Vatican this morning – in photos
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy anticipated to attend funeral
… and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy can be anticipated to attend the funeral, presidency supply informed AFP.
Count on the diplomatic record to develop quickly within the coming days, with most nations sending their heads of state or authorities to pay tribute to Francis – creating potential area for high-level conferences on the margins of the funeral.
France’s Macron to attend Francis’s funeral
French president Emmanuel Macron additionally simply confirmed he would attend the funeral, talking to reporters in Saint-Denis de la Reunion, the place he’s on a overseas journey.
“We will attend the pope’s funeral as we should,” he mentioned, AFP reported.
US president Trump anticipated at Francis’s funeral
US president Donald Trump mentioned in a single day that he was planning to journey to Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis, anticipated later this week.
In a submit on Fact Social, he mentioned:
Melania and I can be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We stay up for being there!
Entrance pages from round Europe and past
Let’s begin the day by bringing you entrance pages from round Europe and past as newspapers reported on the demise of Pope Francis – together with in Italy and his native Argentina.
Morning opening: Sede vacante

Jakub Krupa
Following the demise of Pope Francis at 88 yesterday, the papacy is at the moment vacant, or as they name it in Vatican, we’re within the sede vacante interval.
However first selections are set to be made at the moment in regards to the course of that may first pay tribute to Francis’s lifetime of service, and in the end result in the election of his successor.
Whereas the 88-year-old left clear directions on the place he would wish to be buried – in St. Mary Main basilica exterior the Vatican – the important timeline of what occurs when is to be determined by the cardinals.
The Congregation of Cardinals is anticipated to make first calls at the moment, together with on when his physique would lie in state, and when the funeral would happen, kicking off a fancy diplomatic operation which is able to see scores of world leaders descend on Rome and Vatican.
The clock can be beginning for the conclave which is able to in the end elect the brand new pope, which should start 15-20 days after the demise of the earlier head of the Catholic church. Count on to listen to extra about papabili, these anticipated to be within the operating to succeed Francis.
I’ll deliver you all the important thing updates all through the day.
It’s Tuesday, 22 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.