Catholics of the world will bid farewell to Pope Francis at a funeral Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after 12 years of the Pope.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral, as well as dozens of world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European royals. Leaders from Italy, France, Germany and Frances' home country Argentina also confirmed their presence.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Mary Simon will represent Canada at the funeral.
The Vatican said in total that it expects delegations from at least 130 national and international organizations.
Funeral service will begin at 4 a.m. ET on Saturday (0800 GMT). Global News will broadcast the event live online.
Francis lay in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican said 250,000 people pay tribute. On the last day of public viewing, his coffin was sealed Friday night.
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Then, according to his will, he will be buried in a simple underground grave at the Cathedral of Major St. Mary. The Vatican said the tomb was made of marble from Liguria, the hometown of Francis’ grandparents.
Security has been strengthened throughout the crowds in Rome and the Vatican to deal with large queues to view Francis’ bodies and prepare for the high-profile funeral.
Francis, who suffers from chronic lung disease, was taken to the Jegilly Hospital in Rome on February 14 due to a respiratory crisis that pneumonia developed into double pneumonia.
He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his Pope, but eventually returned to the Vatican on March 23.
After the mourning period, the meeting that chose the new pope is not expected to begin before May 6. The Cardinal who meets in Rome now will decide on the date after the often extended discussion.
About 135 cardinals are eligible for a secret meeting that may extend within a few days, and then white smoke gushing out of the chimney of the Sistine Church tells the world that a new pope has been selected.
– Documents with the Associated Press and Reuters
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
