Overview

• Pope Francis’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding over the Mass.
• The late pontiff lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday evening, with tens of thousands continuing to visit daily to pay their respects.
• Francis’s funeral rites reflect his reforms, including a single wooden coffin and the absence of traditional elevated biers, emphasizing simplicity over grandeur.
• World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Prince William, are among the 170 delegations expected to attend.
• Following the funeral, Francis will be buried in a simple tomb at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, marking a rare departure from burial at St. Peter’s Basilica.