Overview

• Pope Francis’s body remains on public display in St. Peter’s Basilica, with tens of thousands of mourners visiting daily ahead of Friday evening's closure.
• Cardinals have convened three times since the pope’s death to organize the funeral, Novendiale mourning period, and early May conclave to elect his successor.
• The conclave will feature 135 electors from 71 countries, a record in geographic diversity, though two cardinals have declined participation due to health reasons.
• The funeral is set for Saturday, followed by Pope Francis’s burial at Santa Maria Maggiore, per his testament, marking a break from traditional St. Peter’s interments.
• The Vatican has extended St. Peter’s Basilica’s visiting hours to accommodate the overwhelming number of mourners, with lines stretching over a kilometer.