Thousands Flock To Vatican For Pope Francis’ Funeral

The funeral of Pope Francis will be held today, April 26, in the Vatican. The ceremony will begin at 10am local time (1:30 IST). World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, will attend the ceremony. Leaders from India, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, Brazil, and Argentina have also reportedly confirmed their presence. Apart from this, more than 200,000 people are expected to attend the funeral, which will take place in St. Peter's Square, the famous large plaza in front of the basilica in Vatican City.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will lead the funeral service. Pope Francis had requested that he be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration”. Notably, the tomb will be inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus. Once the funeral mass has finished in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis’s coffin will be taken, in procession, to Santa Maria Maggiore. During his lifetime, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was Pope Francis’s favourite. Meanwhile, in the coming days, the Vatican will set the date for the conclave to choose Pope Francis’s successor.