What to expect at Pope Francis’ funeral from Vatican rituals to iron-clad security and world leaders attending
Pope Francis has continued to break with traditions even in death, requesting several changes to the ceremony and burial that accompany the passing of a pontiff before he passed away.
But other rituals will follow ancient traditions, the Vatican announced, with tens of thousands of mourners to descend on the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica to say farewell to the Catholic figurehead. More than 50,000 people have already filed through St Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis in just the first 12 hours of public viewing.
The Prince of Wales will join more than 130 foreign dignitaries, including US President Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron at the funeral on Saturday.
Below we look at how the service will unfold.
Pope Francis’s coffin will be sealed in a ritual on Friday evening, marking the end of the three days of public viewing in St Peter’s Basilica.
This will be conducted by American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a trusted aide to Pope Francis and the current camerlengo – the official who runs the Holy See between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of the next one.
In one break from tradition, Pope Francis eschewed the previous three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak and will be interred in a simplified zinc coffin, inside a wooden casket.
A bag of coins minted during Francis’s time as pope is placed in the coffin, along with a one-page account of his papacy. That account is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies before being rolled up into a tube that is put in the coffin.
Senior members of the Catholic Church will attend the ceremony, as well as the late Pope’s secretaries, Vatican News reports.
The funeral itself will take place in St Peter’s Square, in front of the Basilica where his body has been lying in state.
The funeral mass will begin at 10am local time (9am BST). His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the ceremony.
Italian authorities expect more than 130 foreign delegates to attend the funeral, including as well as up to 200,000 mourners, creating a logistical and security challenge.
Security around the Vatican has been tightened ahead of Saturday, with Italian authorities adding drones to foot and horse patrols along routes to St Peter’s Square.
The prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, told a news conference on Thursday “I believe that the ‘security machine’ is ready,” but will remain flexible and “ready to reshape and above all transmit a sense of serenity.”
