Date for Burial of Pope Francis Set

The funeral service for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at 10:00 AM in Rome, according to the Vatican on Tuesday morning. The burial liturgy will be presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Afterwards, Francis will be laid to rest in his favorite Roman church, Santa Maria Maggiore.

Farewell to Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica

As early as Wednesday morning, the Pope's body will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica starting at 9:00 AM. In a procession, high-ranking church officials will accompany the coffin from the chapel in the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica. Soon after, people will be allowed to pay their respects to the deceased Pope there.

Meanwhile, the body of Francis has been laid out in the chapel of his residence Santa Marta. Cardinals, members of the Curia, and Vatican employees can pay their respects at the open coffin. As seen in the first photos released by the Vatican, the coffin is placed in front of an altar. Francis often celebrated early mass at this altar. According to the Vatican, the deceased Pope is wearing a red garment and a white bishop's mitre. A rosary is wrapped around his folded hands. A member of the Swiss Guard stands watch on either side.

Crowds Flocked to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

Additionally, on Tuesday, crowds flocked to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica where the Pope, as stipulated in his will, will be buried. In the Pauline Chapel, where the Marian icon "Salus populi romani" is kept, a mass in memory of the Pope was held. The "Miserere" was sung during the service. At the entrance of the basilica near the main train station Termini, there is a podium with a guestbook where people could leave a personal farewell message for the Pope. A large photo of the Pope with his birth and death dates was displayed.

From the nave, a bright wooden structure can be seen on the left, containing a side door locked with a padlock. From here, the future grave of Francis can be seen. "The Pope wanted to be buried in this basilica because of his strong devotion to Mary. It is a modest place. We are ready to receive the Pope's body," explained Valentino Miserachs, who is responsible for the basilica. Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore more than 100 times during his twelve-year pontificate. Before each of his foreign trips, he prayed at the presumably late antique Marian image "Salus Populi Romani" (Protector of the Roman People) - most recently on the eve of Palm Sunday.

Numerous State Guests Expected for Pope Francis' Funeral

State guests from all over the world are expected to attend the funeral service. US President Donald Trump has also announced his attendance. According to Kathpress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Argentina's President Javier Milei have also confirmed their attendance. In his will, published on Monday evening, Francis stipulated that he should not be buried in St. Peter's Basilica, but in the Marian church of Santa Maria Maggiore near Rome's main train station, Termini. Only his name should be on his grave: Franciscus. There are already graves of former popes there. However, the previous burial was more than 350 years ago. The conclave to elect the new pope is expected to begin in early May - again in the Sistine Chapel. As of now, 135 cardinals from around the world under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. The cardinals have already been summoned to Rome by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

First Withdrawal from Conclave After Pope Francis' Death

Meanwhile, the former Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo), Cardinal Vinko Puljic (79), has withdrawn from attending the upcoming conclave. He will not be able to come to Rome for health reasons, Puljic told the Croatian newspaper "Vecernji list" according to Kathpress. "The doctors advise against it, and I do not intend to travel to Rome unless the Vatican explicitly requests it," said the Cardinal. Pope Francis was "the morally strongest authority in the nightmare of war, in which hope is indeed killed," Puljic was also quoted by the Croatian broadcaster HRT on the Pope's death. "He tirelessly spoke out against armament, against war, against terror, thus having a special message to humanity." At the same time, Puljic caused a stir with a remark that Francis left behind "numerous memories, but also many disappointments" after his death. He did not say what these disappointments were. Puljic led the Catholic Archdiocese of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1990 to 2022.

(APA/Red)

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