Overview

• Pope Francis’s state funeral is scheduled for Saturday at St. Peter’s Square, with an estimated 200,000 attendees and 130 international delegations expected.
• His body remains on public display at St. Peter’s Basilica, where tens of thousands of mourners continue to pay their respects daily.
• Security preparations include drone-defense systems and coordinated efforts by police and civil defense teams to manage the large crowds and protect attendees.
• Cardinals are meeting to finalize the early May conclave, with debates ongoing about the voting eligibility of Cardinal Angelo Becciu following his prior sanctions.
• Speculation about potential successors highlights varied visions for the church’s future, with names like Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Tagle, and Péter Erdő circulating.