Pope Francis’s Funeral: Ceremony Details, World Leaders in Attendance, and What Lies Ahead for the Church
Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning at the age of 88, will be laid to rest this Saturday in Rome. His funeral is expected to draw dignitaries from across the globe, alongside tens of thousands of mourners. Here’s what to expect on the day and what the future may hold for the Catholic Church.
When and Where Will the Funeral Take Place?
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. The service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. An estimated 170 foreign delegations are expected to attend, alongside tens of thousands of pilgrims.
For reference, about 50,000 people attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in the same location in January 2023. In the days leading up to Francis’s funeral, more than 130,000 people visited St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body lay in state in a simple open wooden coffin.
Which World Leaders and Royals Will Attend?
A wide array of global leaders will be in attendance. Among them:
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United States: Former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump
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France: President Emmanuel Macron
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Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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Italy: President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
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Spain: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
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Ireland: President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin
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United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William
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Poland: President Andrzej Duda
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Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro
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Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
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Argentina: President Javier Milei, despite past criticisms of the pope
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Mexico: Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez (on behalf of President Claudia Sheinbaum)
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Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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Russia: Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova (President Putin is absent due to international arrest warrants)
Opposition figures such as Spain’s Alberto Núñez Feijóo and France’s Jordan Bardella will also attend.
Security Measures in Place
Rome is on high alert. Over 2,000 police officers have been deployed, supported by 400 traffic officers. Anti-terror and anti-sabotage units are on the ground, and advanced security systems—including anti-drone technology and a no-fly zone enforced by fighter jets—have been activated. Water is also being distributed to attendees due to the warm weather.
How Will the Funeral Differ From Tradition?
Pope Francis made clear before his death that he wanted a simpler funeral. He rejected the use of ornate elements such as an elevated bier and triple coffin tradition. Instead, his body will rest in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc—”with dignity, but not on cushions,” as he once said.
Where Will Pope Francis Be Buried?
Breaking with centuries of tradition, Pope Francis will not be buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, he will be laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood, a place he frequently visited to pray. The burial site was chosen by the pope himself and will be simple, with a Latin inscription of his papal name: Franciscus.
Public visitation to his tomb will begin on Sunday.
What Happens After the Funeral?
The funeral will mark the start of the Novemdiales—a nine-day period of mourning and daily Masses for the late pontiff.
Attention will then shift to the conclave. Within 15 to 20 days, 135 cardinal electors (under the age of 80) will gather in the Sistine Chapel to select the next pope. Each round of secret voting is followed by the traditional smoke signals: black for inconclusive, white for a successful election.
Who Could Be the Next Pope?
While papal elections are notoriously unpredictable, some likely contenders include:
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Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy) – known for progressive views
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Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Vatican Secretary of State) – a diplomatic insider
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Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines) – a popular and charismatic figure from Asia
Pope Francis himself was an unexpected choice in 2013, once joking that the cardinals had to go “to the end of the earth” to find a pope.
