During their first “general congregation” – meetings of cardinals held during the vacancy of the Apostolic See – this morning, April 22, 2025, the cardinals began preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning at 7:35.
The cardinals met for about 90 minutes and made the first two decisions: transferring the Pope's body to St. Peter's and the date of the funeral. This weekend is still the Jubilee of Adolescents.
About 60 cardinals — out of a total of 252 worldwide — took part in this closed-door meeting, which lasted an hour and a half in the Synod Hall, near St. Peter's Basilica, according to the director of the Holy See Press Office.
The date of the transfer of the Pope's body (Wednesday) and the date of the funeral (Saturday) were decided.
During the meeting, the cardinals present took an oath of absolute secrecy regarding everything related to the election of the future pontiff — as these congregations are responsible for organizing the conclave — and on sensitive matters concerning the Catholic Church.
The duties of these congregations are set out in detail in John Paul II's constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (1996). For the time being, two decisions have been taken by the cardinals: the date and time of the transfer of the Pope's remains to St. Peter's Basilica (April 23 at 9 a.m.) and the funeral (April 26 at 10 a.m.).
“All the cardinals have been invited,” confirmed Matteo Bruni, responding to the press about the possibility that Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu — whose rights as a cardinal were revoked by Pope Francis in 2020 — might attend.
French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop Emeritus of Bordeaux, who acknowledged abuse committed in the 1980s against a girl, also received the invitation sent by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
Cardinal Parolin's supportive role
The cardinals also drew lots to select three of their number to assist Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican administrator during the period of the vacancy of the See of Peter.
These three cardinals represent the three “orders” (bishops, priests, and deacons). They are former Secretary of State Pietro Parolin—a position suspended upon the death of a pope—Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (where Pope Francis will be buried), and Fabio Baggio, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin will also celebrate Sunday's Mass, which was scheduled to take place in St. Peter's Square as part of the Jubilee for Adolescents with 80,000 young people from around the world.
In the aftermath of the Pope's funeral, this Mass takes on a new significance: It will be the second stage of the “novena” of Masses, which traditionally take place over nine days in the city of Rome starting from the funeral of a pope, in this case until May 4.
Tonight, as last night, a Rosary led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, will be recited for the pope in St. Peter's Square.
The cardinals are scheduled to meet tomorrow, Wednesday, at 5 p.m. for their second general congregation, during which they will continue to organize the next steps.
