The Vatican announced that the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, will be held on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square.
The funeral Mass will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, and is expected to draw world leaders and tens of thousands of faithful mourners. Among the notable attendees are U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following the funeral, Pope Francis will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, fulfilling his personal wish to be buried near the beloved icon of the Virgin Mary.
The 88-year-old pontiff died from a cerebral stroke and irreversible cardiovascular collapse after months of declining health. Earlier this year, he had been hospitalized for 38 days due to severe pneumonia.
In keeping with his humble lifestyle, Pope Francis requested to be buried in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, opting out of the traditional three casket burial.