Thousands of people are arriving at St Peter's Square this morning for the Pope Francis, hoping to share in commemorations of the life of the head of the Catholic Church.
Crowds began gathering hours before dawn, as people tried to find a spot where they might catch a glimpse of the late pontiff as his body passes by on the way to the Basilica of St Mary Major – his final burial place. Some people were seen sleeping on the pavement.
More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the funeral, along with major world leaders in attendance, including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and others.
Some 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and priests are expected to be near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests will be in the square to witness the ceremony beginning at 10am local time (9am BST).
The funeral is taking place five days after the 88-year-old Pontiff’s death on Monday from a stroke, and following several days of global mourning for the Argentinian remembered for his humble leadership style and championing of the downtrodden.
On Friday night the Pope’s coffin was sealed in a private Vatican ceremony after three days of public viewings attended by 250,000 people.
Key Points
- How Pope Francis's funeral service will begin
- Donald Trump arrives in Vatican City ahead of Pope Francis's funeral
- Who will be attending the funeral?
- Zelensky arrives in Rome for Pope's funeral
Zelensky arrives in Rome for Pope's funeral
06:58
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Stuti Mishra
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, have just arrived in Rome to attend Pope Francis's funeral at the Vatican, Ukrainian media reported citing a government spokesperson.
There was some uncertainty around Mr Zelensky's presence at the funeral after Kyiv was hit by massive Russian air strikes earlier this week.
Archbishops and bishops to gather in the Constantine Wing ahead of the funeral
06:28
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Bryony Gooch
Archbishops and bishops will start gathering in the Constantine Wing, a corridor adjacent to St Peter's Basilica at 8.30am local time (7.30am BST).
At the same time, Catholic priests will start congregating in St Peter's Square.
Patriarchs from the Orthodox church and cardinals will congregate in Saint Sebastian Chapel from 9am, inside the basilica, where the remains of Pope John Paul II lie.
Photos: Nuns and other pilgrims look for their seats in St Peter's Square ahead of Pope Francis' funeral
06:15
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Stuti Mishra
Mapped: where the Pope's funeral will take place
06:01
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Bryony Gooch
While most popes are interred on Vatican grounds, Pope Francis has broken from tradition with his request to be buried outside the holy city.
Instead, he will be buried at St Mary Major in Rome. He is the first pope in 120 years to choose a burial ground outside the Vatican.
Francis’s will stipulated a simple burial "in the earth, without particular decoration", marked only with his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
People line up overnight to bid farewell to Pope Francis
05:45
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Stuti Mishra
Hours before dawn, crowds of mourners have already filled the streets around St Peter’s Square, hoping to catch a glimpse of the late pontiff as his body passes by on the way to the Basilica of St Mary Major — his final burial place.
Some photos show people lining the roads leading to the Basilica of St Mary Major, where the late pontiff will be laid to rest.
Another photograph shows crowds bundled in jackets and blankets, with some people sitting or sleeping on the pavement, as they hold their place in line overnight.
The funeral will be held in St Peter’s Square in Rome at 10am local time.
How to watch Pope Francis's funeral
05:28
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Bryony Gooch
Both the BBC and Sky News will offer special coverage of the pope’s funeral ceremony.
A BBC News special will begin at 8.30am, scheduled to continue until 12.30pm. Meanwhile, Sky News will begin their coverage at 7am until 1pm.
ITV has said it will have a live stream on its online platform ITVX during the day.
The Vatican will also broadcast the funeral live on its YouTube channel. They said they would offer coverage in 15 different languages.
In pictures: St Mary Major where Pope Francis will be buried
05:00
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Bryony Gooch
In photos: From Argentina to France, Pope Francis remembered on the eve of his burial
04:30
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Stuti Mishra
WATCH: Thousands queue to view Pope lying in state at Vatican's St Peter's Basilica
04:01
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Bryony Gooch
What is the 'Novemdiales' or nine days of mourning?
03:03
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Bryony Gooch
The funeral marks the beginning of the “novemdiales”, or nine days of mourning.
While the funeral mass is open to the public, services on the other eight days are open to different groups including one for employees and the faithful of Vatican City.
The last day of mourning is Sunday, May 4, ending with a service at 5pm.
After this final day of mourning, the Cardinals can begin the papal conclave.
What to expect from Pope Francis's funeral ceremony
02:02
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Bryony Gooch
The service, expected to last two-and-a-half hours, will be mostly held in Latin.
It will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Vatican’s official liturgical text for papal funerals, which was updated at Pope Francis’ request last year, according to EWTN, a Catholic television network.
The mass will include readings, and the homily will be followed by prayers in French, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, German, and Chinese, before the Eucharistic liturgy, Holy Communion, and the Rite of Final Commendation, Vatican News reports.
“The celebration will be accompanied by the Choir of the Sistine Chapel,” the website says.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals who is presiding over the ceremony, will then sprinkle the coffin with holy water and incense.
At the end of the mass, the choir will sing in Latin: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.”
When the service is over, the coffin will be carried through the “door of death” to the left of the altar at St Peters, while a 10-ton funeral bell tolls.
Who will be attending the funeral?
01:02
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Bryony Gooch
Pope Francis’s funeral has an impressive guest list of approximately 170 world leaders, including 12 reigning monarchs and 55 heads of State, 14 heads of Government.
UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump are set to attend, as well as Prince William, who is appearing in King Charles’s stead.
About 250 cardinals, a multitude of bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters will attend the funeral Mass as well.
Vatican officials estimate several hundred thousand people will pay their final respects.
There will be some notable absences, as neither Russian president Vladimir Putin or Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be attending.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he may also have to cancel his attendance following a strike on Kyiv on Thursday.
How will the funeral service begin?
Saturday 26 April 2025 00:01
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Bryony Gooch
The funeral mass will begin at 10am local time (9am BST) in St Peter’s Square, in front of the Basilica where Pope Francis’s body has been lying in state for three days. The mass will begin with a choir singing introductory rites.
His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the ceremony.
The late pope’s face will covered with a silk veil and his body sprinkled with holy water.
In pictures: Pope Francis's coffin is sealed ahead of the ceremony
Friday 25 April 2025 23:51
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Bryony Gooch
Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed on Friday at 8pm local time in a liturgical rite.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell presided at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin of the late Pope Francis, which was attended by several Cardinals and Holy See officials.
It marked the end of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, which saw hundreds of thousands of people pay their respects to the late Pope.
Donald Trump arrives in Vatican City ahead of Pope Francis's funeral
Friday 25 April 2025 23:45
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Bryony Gooch
US president Donald Trump has arrived at the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday morning. He will attend with first lady Melania Trump.
Approximately 170 world leaders are expected to attend the late pontiff’s funeral ceremony.
Pope Francis to be remembered in historical Vatican funeral
Friday 25 April 2025 23:40
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Bryony Gooch
People around the world are expected to watch Pope Francis’s funeral in St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, with 170 world leaders in attendance and more than 200,000 people standing in the Square.
The occasion will mark the first day of mourning in a centuries old ritual known as “novemdiales”, or nine days of suffrage, before a new pope can be selected via a papal conclave.
The ceremony will begin at 10am local time (9am BST) and be broadcasted around the world.
The Independent will be reporting on the crucial moments of this historical event to help you understand what’s going on.