A few hours before the funeral of Pope Francis begins, the influx of thousands of believers wanting to see the leader of the Catholic Church one last time has increased before his coffin is closed on April 25. The Vatican has announced the cardinals who will act as representatives at the funeral ceremony, which will take place this weekend in the Vatican and will be attended by presidents and officials from around the world.
The camerlengo cardinal, Kevin Joseph Farrell, will oversee the closing rite of Pope Francis's coffin at St. Peter's Basilica this Friday at 8:00 PM local time. He will also be responsible for his burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as was the express wish of the pontiff. Present at these events will be the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, as well as six other cardinals, including Roger Michael Mahony, Dominique Mamberti, and Mauro Gambetti.
Additionally, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the general vicar of Rome Baldassare Reina, the Pope's almsgiver Konrad Krajewski, several archbishops, and the secretaries of Francis will participate. The ceremony was ordered by the College of Cardinals to honor the memory of Pope Francis.
According to a statement from the Vatican, at the end of the funeral on Saturday, April 26, 2025, the coffin of Pope Francis will be taken to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, presided over by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. Cardinal Re will officiate the funeral on Saturday at 10:00 AM in St. Peter's Square, with the expected participation of heads of state from various nations.
The document 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' established by the pope simplified funeral rites, indicating that he wished to be laid in state in the chapel of his residence, have his body exposed to the faithful in an open coffin, and be buried in a simple grave in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as specified in his will at the age of 88.
