Here's What To Know About Pope Francis' Funeral | rssama.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Pope Francis died connected Easter Monday astatine nan property of 88. His decease group disconnected mourning crossed nan Catholic world and days of ritual astatine nan Vatican. Here are nan cardinal things to cognize astir nan ceremonial of nan first Latin American pontiff successful nan church’s history:

When and wherever was his ceremonial held?

His ceremonial was held Saturday greeting successful St. Peter’s Square. His coffin was past taken by motorcade crossed downtown Rome to nan spot wherever he wished to beryllium laid to remainder successful a elemental underground tomb astatine St. Mary Major Basilica, according to his will. The religion is location to his favourite icon of nan Virgin Mary, to whom he was peculiarly devoted.

Clergy during nan ceremonial of Pope Francis successful St. Peter's Square astatine nan Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.

(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

Why not astatine nan Vatican?

Before and aft each overseas trip, Francis would spell to nan basilica to believe earlier nan Byzantine-style painting, nan Salus Populi Romani, aliases Salvation of nan group of Rome.

Located successful a broadside chapel, nan icon features an image of Mary, draped successful a bluish robe, holding nan babe Jesus, who successful move holds a jeweled aureate book.

Which dignitaries attended?

Heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, were among those attending nan funeral. Others dignitaries included: Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and European Council President António Costa.

The coffin of Pope Francis is carried successful beforehand of dignitaries, including President Donald Trump, center, and French President Emmanuel Macron, during his ceremonial successful St. Peter's Square astatine nan Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.

AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

How agelong did nan pope serve?

Pope Francis had a 12-year papacy during which he charmed nan world pinch his humility and concern for nan poor. But nan Argentina-born pope besides alienated conservatives pinch critiques of capitalism and ambiance change.

Why were truthful galore young group successful attendance?

Many mourners had already planned to beryllium successful Rome this play for nan Holy Year canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. The canonization was postponed aft Francis’ death, and nary day has yet been set. The jubilee of teenagers had besides been group for April 25 to 27.

Perhaps because truthful galore young group were connected hand, nan somber ceremonial still had a festive mood, pinch mourners taking selfies amid nan hymns arsenic Francis’ elemental coffin was brought retired of St. Peter’s Basilica astatine nan commencement of nan Mass.

Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re blesses nan coffin of precocious Pope Francis, during nan ceremonial ceremony astatine St Peter's Square astatine nan Vatican connected April 26, 2025.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

So, really do they take a caller pope?

The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual to elite a caller one, involving ineffable oaths by nan cardinals, nan piercing of ballots pinch a needle and thread aft they’re counted, and past burning them to nutrient either nan achromatic aliases achromatic fume to awesome if there’s a caller leader for nan world’s 1.4 cardinal Catholics.

With nan burial, nan Catholic Church originates 9 days of charismatic mourning, known arsenic nan “novemdiales”. The day of nan conclave to elite a caller pope has not yet been announced.

In nan conclave, the cardinals will ballot successful concealed sessions, and nan ballots will beryllium burned successful a typical stove aft each session. Black fume indicates nary pope has been elected; achromatic fume says nan cardinals person chosen nan adjacent caput of nan Catholic Church.

Any baptized Catholic antheral is eligible, though only cardinals person been selected since 1378. The victor must person astatine slightest two-thirds of nan ballot from those cardinals nether property 80 who are eligible to participate.

Francis appointed nan immense mostly of electors, often tapping men who stock his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity alternatively than rupture.

While it’s intolerable to foretell who nan adjacent pope will be, some cardinals are considered to person amended chances than others.

Is it for illustration nan movie?

Yes and no.

“Conclave” nan 2024 film, introduced galore laypeople to nan ancient action process pinch its arcane rules and expansive ceremony, albeit pinch a metallic surface twist packed afloat of palace intrigue and surprise.

Vatican experts opportunity nan movie excels astatine re-creating nan look and consciousness of a conclave. But location are discrepancies, errors and immoderate outlandish storylines successful nan Hollywood version. And while nan voting process was depicted accurately, nan ballots are burned not aft each vote, but aft each session.

The bequest of Francis

Francis was known for his individual simplicity, from nan prime of his sanction Francis successful grant of St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced wealthiness to thief nan poor, to nan outward symbols and priorities of his papacy.

He chose to unrecorded successful nan Vatican’s Domus Santa Marta edifice alternatively of nan Apostolic Palace and wore his aged orthotic shoes and not nan reddish loafers of nan papacy.

In his teachings, he focused connected interest for refugees and different marginalized people. His first travel extracurricular Rome arsenic pope successful 2013 was to nan Sicilian land of Lampedusa to meet pinch recently arrived migrants. His plea for invited put him astatine likelihood pinch U.S. and European policies.

He besides signaled a much welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people, while besides making nan conflict against ambiance alteration a priority. Francis became nan first pope to usage technological information successful a awesome school archive and made attraction for God’s creation a hallmark of his papacy.

He eschewed nan grandiose moreover successful his departure, lying successful authorities successful a elemental coffin made of wood.

The sealing of nan coffin

The nighttime earlier nan funeral, nan camerlengo presided complete nan closing and sealing of nan coffin, successful nan beingness of different elder cardinals. A achromatic cloth was placed complete Francis’ face.

A container containing coins minted during his papacy was placed successful nan coffin on pinch a one-page written relationship of his papacy — known successful Italian arsenic a “rogito,” a connection indicating an charismatic deed. It was publication aloud by nan maestro of liturgical ceremonies and past rolled up and slipped wrong a cylindrical conduit that was placed wrong nan coffin. Another transcript is kept successful nan Vatican archives. The covers of some nan zinc coffin and nan woody 1 carnivore a transverse and Francis’ papal overgarment of arms.

Cardianal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrel seals nan zinc screen of nan casket containing nan assemblage of precocious Pope Francis successful St. Peter's Basilica astatine nan Vatican Friday, April 25, 2025.

Vatican Media via AP

Associated Press belief sum receives support done nan AP’s collaboration pinch The Conversation US, pinch backing from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.