Pope Francis’ Coffin to be Sealed in a Solemn Rite
Get ready for a moving and historic moment as Pope Francis’ coffin will be sealed during a special liturgical rite in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, April 25, at 8:00 PM. This significant event will be presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, in preparation for the papal funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.
Several Cardinals and Holy See officials will be in attendance at this solemn occasion, which will be broadcast across Vatican News’ channels. It will also mark the conclusion of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, where tens of thousands of people have gathered to pay their respects to the late Pope.
Since the Vatican Basilica opened its doors to the faithful on Wednesday morning, over 50,000 individuals have passed by the Altar of the Confession to honor Pope Francis. St. Peter’s Basilica remained open until 5:30 AM on Thursday, closing briefly before reopening at 7:00 AM.
The Rite of Sealing of the Coffin will see the presence of distinguished guests, including Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, and others. Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, and other high-ranking officials will also be in attendance.
Following this solemn occasion, Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. This will mark the beginning of the Novemdiales, a tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul. Daily Novemdiales Masses will take place at 5:00 PM in St. Peter’s Basilica, with an exception for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, when the Mass will be held at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.
