LIVE from the Pope's Funeral: Ceremony, Guests, and Procession in Rome

On Saturday, the world bids farewell to Pope Francis. The 88-year-old passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, following a stroke in his residence Santa Marta in the Vatican.

For twelve years, Pope Francis led the world church with its approximately 1.4 billion Catholics. On Wednesday, the body of Pope Francis was laid out in an open casket in St. Peter's Basilica. By Friday evening, hundreds of thousands of believers paid their last respects to the deceased church leader.

Funeral of Pope Francis in Rome: The Schedule

On Saturday, the cardinals will arrive at St. Peter's Basilica from 9:00 AM, with state guests expected around 9:30 AM. The solemn funeral mass for Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square will begin at 10:00 AM. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will preside over the liturgy.

An estimated minimum of 100,000 visitors and numerous heads of state and government from around the world, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are expected at the Pope's funeral. According to the Vatican, 130 delegations from abroad - including 50 heads of state and ten monarchs - have announced their attendance. Several Austrian bishops, including Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and the Archbishop of Salzburg and Chairman of the Bishops' Conference Franz Lackner, will participate in the requiem at St. Peter's Square. Official Austria will be represented by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker.

After the end of the Requiem Mass, the funeral procession begins to move with the coffin at around 12:30 PM, while the state guests leave the Vatican. Subsequently, the convoy proceeds at a walking pace through the Roman city center, passing historical sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Around 1:00 PM, the funeral procession finally reaches the final resting place of the deceased Pontiff: the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This was Francis' express wish, as the papal basilica near the main train station was his favorite church in Rome. The burial takes place at around 1:30 PM, excluding the public.

It is expected that hundreds of thousands will follow the funeral procession through Rome. Large screens are set up at several locations. From some windows along the route, banners like "Grazie Francesco" ("Thank you, Francis") are already hanging. More than 10,000 security forces are deployed. Several helicopters will follow the funeral procession from the air.

Follow the Funeral Service for Pope Francis on TV and Online

Around the world, television stations will broadcast the funeral services for Pope Francis live on Saturday, including ORF 2, ORF ON, and ORF Sound from 9:05 AM.

The funeral service for Pope Francis can also be followed live on Vatican News from 9:30 AM. The subsequent route that the Pope's coffin will take through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore will also be broadcast.

(APA/Red)

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