By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 25, 2025 / 18:36 pm
The world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, who served as pontiff from March 13, 2013, until his recent death on April 21. The funeral to honor his memory will take place on Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Saturday’s funeral marks the beginning of the traditional “Novendiales,” a period of nine consecutive days dedicated to mourning the late pope. He will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
When and where is the funeral and how can I watch it?
The funeral is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. Rome time on Saturday, April 26, translating to 4 a.m. Eastern Time, 3 a.m. Central Time, 2 a.m. Mountain Time, and 1 a.m. Pacific Time.
While the Vatican has not disclosed the duration of the funeral, past papal funerals have lasted between one and a half to three hours. To pay your respects, you can tune in to watch Pope Francis’ funeral on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) or stream it live on EWTN’s YouTube channel.
The funeral proceedings will be held on the parvis of St. Peter’s Basilica, offering a solemn and reverent tribute to the life and legacy of Pope Francis.
Welcome to the grand funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica
As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, the funeral will be held at the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The funeral will take place outdoors in front of the basilica, offering a solemn and dignified setting for the final farewell.
Who is presiding over the liturgy?
The primary celebrant of the funeral will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the esteemed dean of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Re, a native of Italy, was appointed as a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. At 91 years old, he brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to this sacred occasion. Cardinal Re also presided over the historic 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.
The liturgy will be joined by a distinguished group of patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from all corners of the globe. Together, they will offer prayers and blessings in multiple languages, including Latin, Italian, English, Polish, and Arabic, reflecting the universal reach of the Catholic Church.
Who will be attending?
The funeral is open to the general public, with an estimated 200,000 individuals expected to gather at St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis. It will be a moment of unity and remembrance as people from diverse backgrounds and cultures come together to honor the legacy of a beloved spiritual leader.
Join us as we bid farewell to Pope Francis amidst the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica, a fitting tribute to a remarkable pontiff who touched the hearts of millions around the world.
