Pope Francis to Be Laid to Rest Saturday as Vatican Begins Nine Days of Mourning.

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM local time (0800 GMT) in a funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the Mass, which will be concelebrated by clergy from around the world. 

In accordance with his wishes for a simpler ceremony, Pope Francis's body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica starting Wednesday, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. Following the funeral, he will be interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, making him the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. 

The funeral will initiate the Novemdiales, a traditional nine-day period of mourning and Masses for the repose of the pope's soul. 

Global leaders and dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral, reflecting Pope Francis's significant impact on the international stage. 

The College of Cardinals will convene in the coming weeks to begin the process of electing a new pope, with the conclave anticipated to start around May 6. 

Pope Francis's legacy includes a commitment to humility, social justice, and interfaith dialogue, leaving an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and the world.