A panoramic view of St. Peter’s Square filled with faithful attending Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican on April 20, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 17:08 pm (CNA).
With the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Ca… […]

The body of Pope Francis lies in state at the Vatican’s Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, surrounded by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and Vatican officials paying their respects before his transfer to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration on April 22, 2025. The mortal remains of Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23. / Vatican Media

Rome Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 04:53 am (CNA).

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced Tuesday. 

The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. 

Following the funeral, the pope’s coffin will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial. 

In accordance with his personal wishes, Francis will not be buried in the Vatican grottoes but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he visited more than 100 times during his papacy, before and after international trips, in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he plans to attend the funeral with the first lady, Melania Trump. Other heads of state, religious leaders and thousands of faithful from around the world are expected to attend. 

In the days leading up to the funeral, the late pope’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful can pay their final respects. He will lie in state from Wednesday morning until the funeral Saturday morning, following the rite of translation on Wednesday, April 23, which will begin at 9 a.m. A procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs before entering the basilica through the central door, according to the Holy See Press Office. 

The papal funeral will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Vatican’s official liturgical text for papal funerals, which was updated at Francis’ request in 2024. The late pope’s face, his body having been placed in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, is covered with a silk veil. 

The funeral is the first in nine days of Masses offered for the repose of his soul, known as the “Novendiales.” Each day, a cardinal chosen by the late pope will preside over a Requiem Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. 

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Pope Francis dies at 88: The Holy See has confirmed the passing of the first Latin American pontiff. / Credit: EWTN News

Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 05:48 am (CNA).
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday, April 21, a… […]

Pope Francis wishes the crowd a “Happy Easter” from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 07:12 am (CNA).

Pope Francis decried the numerous conflicts plaguing the planet and appealed to world leaders “not to yield to the logic of fear” in his Easter message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and to the world) on Sunday.

The pope’s traditional blessing, “urbi et orbi,” was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, as the 88-year-old pontiff, still convalescing, was present but physically limited.

Francis, who arrived at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in a wheelchair, greeted the faithful with a brief “Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter” before asking Archbishop Ravelli to read the message on his behalf.

“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development,” the message stated.

Earlier in the morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Casa Santa Marta, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, provided an opportunity for the two to exchange Easter greetings.

Vice President Vance met Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday regarding international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.

The pope’s Easter address — delivered amid a confluence of global conflicts — focused particularly on war-torn regions, including Ukraine, the Holy Land, Myanmar, and various parts of Africa.

Regarding Gaza, where “the terrible conflict continues to generate death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” Francis called for concrete action: “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!”

The Holy Father also lamented the “growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world” while expressing closeness to “the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”

The pope’s message emphasized that “there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.” He added that peace is also impossible without “true disarmament,” warning against the “race to rearmament” that threatens global stability.

Reflecting on the spiritual significance of Easter, Francis reminded the faithful that Christ’s resurrection represents “the basis of our hope” and that “hope does not disappoint!” He characterized this hope not as “an evasion, but a challenge” that “does not delude, but empowers us.”

The message “urbi et orbi” concluded with the pontiff’s customary invocation for a peaceful world: “Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new.”

This year’s Easter celebration held particular significance as it coincided with this year’s 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and was celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar.

After the blessing, Pope Francis greeted jubilant pilgrims from the popemobile, to shouts of joy from the crowd. It was the first time the pontiff used the popemobile to visit the square since his hospitalization.

Last updated on April 20, 2025, with further details.

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