Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21st, the Vatican has announced the funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26th, in St. Peter's Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the Mass, which will be followed by the transfer of the Pope's body to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment, as per his wishes. Public viewing of the Pope's body will take place in St. Peter's Basilica from April 23rd to 25th. The Vatican has also begun the initial stages of funeral rites, including the first meeting of the College of Cardinals.
13 days ago
The Vatican has announced that the funeral Mass for Pope Francis will be held on April 26th at 10:00 AM in St. Peter's Square 3 4 6 7. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which will be concelebrated by various religious leaders 3 4 7. Following the funeral, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a location he chose himself 1 3 4. This basilica held special significance for the late Pope, as he visited it over 100 times during his papacy 4. The funeral marks the beginning of the "Novemdiales," nine days of mourning and Masses for the Pope's soul 3 4 5 7.
Prior to the funeral, the Pope's body will lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica, allowing the public to pay their respects 1 3 4 6 7. Public viewing is scheduled from April 23rd to April 25th, concluding with a prayer service 1 6. On April 23rd, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation, beginning at 9:00 AM 3 7. The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, before entering St. Peter's Square through the Arch of the Bells 3 7. The procession will then enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door 3 7. At the Altar of the Confession, Cardinal Farrell will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, after which public visits to the body will commence 3 7.
The first stage of the papal funeral rites, "the rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin," was conducted by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta 8 10. This occurred approximately 12 hours after Pope Francis's death 8 10. The rite took under an hour, after which the Pope's remains stayed overnight in the chapel 8 10. Cardinal Farrell, along with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, also sealed the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace 8 10. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the Vatican's health services director, prepared the death certificate, citing stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiovascular collapse as the cause of death 8 10. The Pope's body was dressed in a white cassock, then red liturgical vestments with the miter and pallium before being placed in a simple wooden coffin with a zinc lining 8 10.
Following Pope Francis's death, the College of Cardinals convened for its first General Congregation 1 5. During this meeting, the cardinals took an oath to uphold the norms governing the interregnum 5. They also read aloud paragraphs 12 and 13 of "Universi Dominici Gregis," outlining procedures for the Sede Vacante period 1 5. A commission of three cardinals – Pietro Parolin, Stanisław Ryłko, and Edgar Peña Parra – was selected by lot to assist the Camerlengo in governing the Church, representing the three orders of the College of Cardinals 1 5. These cardinals will be replaced every three days 1 5. All scheduled beatifications have been postponed until the next Pope decides on new dates 1.
The news article details the plans for Pope Francis's funeral and the subsequent period of Sede Vacante, demonstrating how the Church's established teachings and traditions guide this transition. The procedures outlined in the article align with the norms specified in documents such as Universi Dominici Gregis and Praedicate Evangelium .
The article highlights several key aspects of the papal transition that are rooted in Catholic tradition:
The news article accurately portrays the initial steps of the papal transition, adhering to the established norms and traditions of the Catholic Church. The actions of the Camerlengo, the College of Cardinals, and other officials are all guided by the teachings and procedures outlined in documents such as Universi Dominici Gregis, ensuring a smooth and orderly transition during the Sede Vacante .