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World leaders from Trump to Zelensky to attend Pope's funeral Who is going to the Pope's funeral?
(about 20 hours later)
Pope Francis will be buried in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood, outside the Vatican, in a break with tradition The ceremony for Pope Francis will take place in front of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday in St Peter's Square, the Vatican has confirmed, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday in St Peter's Square, among them world leaders, Catholic officials and mourners from around the globe.
The head of the Catholic Church died of a stroke on Monday, aged 88, less than 24 hours after leading an Easter address. He had been in poor health after recently battling double pneumonia. Many heads of state and royals have confirmed their attendance, including Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
A host of world leaders and royals - including Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, the Prince of Wales, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, home to the biggest Catholic population in the world - have confirmed their attendance. Political figures will be out in full force at the ceremony, the most prominent gathering of world leaders since US President Donald Trump's inauguration.
Thousands of mourners have already flocked to Vatican City, carrying flowers, crosses and candles and reciting prayers. Pope Francis's vocal opinions on global issues occasionally put him at odds with leaders - some of whom will be at the funeral.
On Tuesday, the Vatican released further details of the Pope's final 24 hours. What happens after the death of Pope Francis?
Francis, who had recently spent five weeks in hospital, was slightly apprehensive about appearing on the balcony on Sunday.
"Do you think I can do this?" the Pope asked his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti.
Strappetti reassured him and moments later the pontiff appeared on the balcony, blessing the crowd gathered in St Peter's Square below.
The following morning at around 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Francis began to feel unwell. An hour later, he waved at Strappetti before slipping into a coma.
"Those who were near him in those moments say he didn't suffer," the Vatican said in a statement. "It was a discreet death."
What happens before the funeral?
The Vatican released photos of Pope Francis in an open coffin in the Chapel of Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where he lived during his 12-year papacy
On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis's body will be taken in a procession led by cardinals from the Chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, where he will remain in an open coffin until Friday to allow mourners to pay their respects.
Just before the procession, a moment of prayer will be led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican in the wake of the Pope's death.
The Vatican has released photos of the Pope's body lying in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta - his residence during his 12-year papacy - dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.
The general public will be able to visit St Peter's Basilica from 11:00 to midnight on Wednesday, 07:00 to midnight on Thursday and 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday.
Bucking tradition, there will be no private viewing for cardinals, at Pope Francis's request. The Pope's coffin will also not be raised on a pedestal.
What time will the service take place?
The funeral will start at 10:00 in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica.
Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from across the globe will take part. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.
Cardinal Battista Re will deliver the final commendation and valediction - a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God - and the pontiff's body will be moved to St Mary Major for the burial.
A nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, then begins.
LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest after the Pope's death
Argentina mourns Pope who left for the Vatican - and never came back
What happens now and what does the Pope do?
How the next Pope is chosenHow the next Pope is chosen
Who is attending the funeral? UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Prince of Wales
Huge crowds are anticipated on Saturday, with as many as 250,000 people expected to attend the funeral. Starmer, who No 10 confirmed would attend, described Pope Francis's leadership as "courageous" in a statement following his death and said he was a pope "for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten".
Many heads of state and royals have confirmed their attendance, including Prince William, US President Donald Trump, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and French President Emmanuel Macron. Prince William will attend the funeral on behalf of his father, King Charles III, in keeping with recent tradition. The King, when he was Prince of Wales, attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Other political figures who have announced they will attend include: King Charles and Queen Camilla were among the last high-profile figures meet the Pope at his residence Casa Santa Marta during a royal visit to Italy earlier this month.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva The King paid tribute to Pope Francis's "compassion" and said "through his care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many".
Polish President Andrzej Duda He said he and the Queen remembered "with particular affection" their meetings with the Pope over the years, and "were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month".
King Charles said he and Camilla had "heavy hearts" following the Pope's death
Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Pope Francis and Lula at the Vatican in 2021
Lula, who shared a personal rapport with the Pope, and first lady Janja Lula da Silva, will attend the funeral.
Brazil is home to the world's largest Catholic population, with over 100 million Catholics. Following news of Pope Francis's death on Monday, Lula declared seven days of mourning.
"Humanity loses today a voice of respect and welcome for others," Lula said.
Noting the meetings he had held with the Pope over the years, Lula said: "We were able to share our ideals of peace, equality, and justice - ideals that the world has always needed, and will always need."
Argentina mourns Pope who left for the Vatican - and never came back
US President Donald Trump
Trump and Pope Francis photographed during their meeting at the Vatican in 2017
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he and first lady Melania would attend the Pope's funeral, marking the first foreign trip of his second term as US president.
After news of the Pope's death emerged, Trump ordered that all federal and state flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the late pontiff. He called Pope Francis "a very good man" who "loved the world" and "he especially loved people that were having a hard time".
The pair clashed in the past. In 2016, Pope Francis criticised Trump's proposal to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, saying a person "who thinks only about building walls" and "not building bridges, is not Christian".
Trump hit back, saying: "For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful."
After Trump met the Pope during a trip to the Vatican in 2017, he said: "He is something, he's really good. We had a fantastic meeting."
In February, Pope Francis described Trump's mass deportations as a "major crisis".
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr
Marcos Jr, who will be in attendance on Saturday, described Francis as the "best Pope in my lifetime".
"A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten," he said.
The Philippines is one of the world's most Catholic countries, with almost 80% of Filipinos identifying as Roman Catholic.
Pope Francis's last visit to the country in 2015 drew a crowd of six million people at an outdoor Mass in the capital city Manila, a record for a papal event.
In the running to become the next Pope is Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, a Cardinal from the Philippines. Cardinal Tagle has been called the "Asian Francis" because of a dedication to social issues and sympathy for migrants.
Who will be the next Pope?
Pope Francis greets people following his Mass in Manila in 2015
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
"We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Francis for spiritual support," Zelensky said following the Pope's death
The Ukrainian president has said he will travel to Vatican City with first lady Olena Zelenska for the funeral.
"He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity," Zelensky wrote on X in tribute to Pope Francis.
"He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians."
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Francis made repeated calls for peace and an end to the war. The two leaders met several times at the Vatican, most recently last October.
Following that meeting, Pope Francis wrote on X: "All nations have the right to exist in peace and security. Their territories must not be attacked, and their sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed through peace and dialogue."
Earlier in 2024, Ukraine had strongly rejected a call by the pontiff for Kyiv to negotiate an end to the war and have "the courage to raise the white flag".
Other world leaders and royals attending the funeral
Other political figures and royals who will attend the Pope's funeral include:
Poland President Andrzej Duda
EU Commission President Ursula von der LeyenEU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, Pope Francis's home country
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, Francis's home country Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Belgium King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
Where will Pope Francis be buried? Croatia President Zoran Milanovic
Pope Francis, who famously eschewed some of the pomp of the papacy during his life, will continue to break with tradition in death. Ecuador President Daniel Noboa
Historically, popes are buried in triple coffins in marble tombs inside St Peter's Basilica at the heart of the Vatican. Pope Francis requested that he instead be buried at Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major. Ireland Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin
He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. Moldova President Maia Sandu
In his final testament, Pope Francis also asked to be buried "in the earth, simple, without particular decoration" and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus. Norway Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
His body was moved into the Santa Marta chapel on Monday evening, and his apartment formally sealed, the Vatican said. Latvia President Edgars Rinkevics
When is the new Pope elected? New Zealand Prime Minister Dick Schoof
Following the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect a successor. Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
The dean of the College of Cardinals has 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to Rome once the Pope is buried. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
Several names have already been floated as potential successors, with more likely to emerge in the coming days.
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