Overview

• Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at age 88, was honored in a state funeral on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square attended by 164 official delegations, including 54 heads of state.
• The simplified funeral rites, reflecting Francis's humility, included a single zinc-lined wooden coffin and a private burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, outside the Vatican.
• An estimated 250,000 mourners paid their respects during a three-day public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica prior to the funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
• Italy implemented one of its largest security operations since Pope John Paul II’s funeral, deploying over 4,000 personnel to safeguard the event and manage the vast crowds.
• The conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor is expected to begin after the nine-day mourning period, with Vatican officials confirming it will commence no earlier than May 6.