The Rite of Sealing of Pope Francis’ coffin will take place on Friday, April 25, at 8:00 PM in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the solemn liturgical ceremony. This marks an important moment before the papal funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.

The rite will also signal the end of public viewing, which has been held at St. Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday. Over 50,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope during this period. The Basilica remained open until 5:30 AM on Thursday before temporarily closing for a short break and reopening at 7:00 AM.

Several prominent church figures will be present for the Rite of Sealing, including Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, Domenique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Baldassare Reina, and Konrad Krajewski. Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, and other Vatican officials will also assist in the ceremony.

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. The Mass will mark the beginning of the Novemdiales, a nine-day period of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul. The Novemdiales Masses will be celebrated daily at 5:00 PM in St. Peter’s Basilica, with the exception of Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, when the Mass will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.