[Latest updates]: The breath of the Holy Spirit, like 20 years ago

Funeral concludes with "breath of the Holy Spirit":

Under the gaze of cameras from around the world, the pages of the open Gospel book on Pope Francis' coffin turned in the breeze blowing across St. Peter's Square on April 26, 2025, at the end of the funeral Mass for the 266th pope. The image was as a memory brought back to life, 20 years after the funeral of John Paul II on April 8, 2005. Observers at that time noticed the same pages being blown by the wind, some reflecting that it was if we could see the breath of the Holy Spirit.

Some 1/4 of a million people attended the Pope's funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square and the surrounding areas, which took place under a bright sun, with pleasant temperatures in the mid to upper 60s and a light breeze.

One of the signs in the crowd, from the education program sponsored by the Pope, Scholas, said: "Good bye father, teacher, and poet."

At 12:12 pm, pall bearers took the coffin inside St. Peter's, paused briefly before the tomb of the first Pope, and then turned to the exit to the left, for the coffin to be loaded onto a popemobile and taken to St. Mary Major.

Night watch:

On this last night in St. Peter's Basilica, the Canons of St. Peter's — some 40 priests serving the Vatican Basilica — will keep vigil over Pope Francis' coffin.

The coffin of the 266th pope was closed this evening in a one-hour rite, after the public visits had closed. According to the ritual, the master of pontifical celebrations spread a white silk veil over the deceased's face, placed in the coffin a purse containing the coins minted with the pope's image during his pontificate, and the "Rogito" — a brief text summarizing the pope's life and important works — wrapped in a metal tube.

On April 26, the now-closed coffin will be carried in procession to the square in front of the basilica for the funeral Mass. The funeral begins at 10 am, Rome time.

The last goodbyes:

The body of Pope Francis, laid in state in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for three days, was visited by approximately 250,000 people, according to the Vatican Press Office, minutes after the basilica's doors closed on April 25, 2025.

The closing of the coffin is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m., on the eve of the Argentine pontiff's funeral. The rite will not be broadcast and will be led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

After time dedicated to close friends and Vatican employees in the chapel of Santa Marta from Monday evening to Tuesday evening, the transfer of Pope Francis' body to St. Peter's Basilica on the morning of April 23 allowed thousands of faithful to bid farewell to the Argentine pontiff.

Entry closed at 6 p.m. this evening to allow the last faithful in line to enter.

Cardinals to pray together at Pope's tomb:

At the general congregation today, it was decided that on Sunday, the Cardinals will visit the tomb of Pope Francis in St. Mary Major Basilica together. They are expected to arrive at 4:00 p.m.

The cardinals will pass through the Holy Door, visit the tomb of Francis, and then the chapel where the Salus Populi Romani icon is displayed. They will then pray Vespers together.

Numbers for funeral:

Some 4,000 priests are expected to be present at Pope Francis's funeral Mass, which will be celebrated tomorrow, April 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

According to the liturgical booklet published by the Vatican this Friday, which provides figures on the celebrants, the thousands of priests will occupy the rows to the left of the altar, behind the cardinals, who are expected to number 220, and the bishops and archbishops, expected to number 750.

State representatives — 130 delegations have already announced their participation — will be seated to the right of the altar. About 50 relatives of the deceased Pope will have a reserved space behind the altar on the right.

On the podium, near the altar, will be placed the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus populi romani — Protectress of the Roman People — venerated in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, to which Pope Francis was particularly devoted, and where he will be buried.

Last moments to pray with open coffin:

As a continuous line of worshippers continues to crowd into St. Peter's Basilica to pay their last respects to the remains of Pope Francis, the Holy See Press Office announced that the doors would close at 6 p.m. on April 25, 2025.

The closure to the public was brought forward by one hour, on this last day of viewing of the coffin.

Since Wednesday, April 23, at 11 a.m., until 8 a.m. this morning, already 128,000 people have passed by to pray with the Pope's remains.

At 8 p.m., the rite of closing the pontiff's coffin is to take place in private.

Due to the large crowds, the basilica has been open with a nearly 24-hour schedule, extending its opening hours during the nights, closing only between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Thursday and between 2:30 a.m. and 5:40 a.m. on Friday.

World leaders make plans for funeral:

The Holy See announced on April 24, 2025, that there are currently 130 delegations confirmed for Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, including approximately 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns.

According to our information, each delegation has five seats for heads of state and three for heads of government. Official delegations are usually seated in a reserved area in the square, to the right as you look toward St. Peter's Basilica.

General congregations:

A total of 103 cardinals participated Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the second "general congregation" — the meetings that prepare for the next steps after the death of a pope — Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reported. The meeting lasted an hour and a half. Participants discussed the nine Masses celebrated by cardinals in suffrage for the deceased pope, beginning on the day of his funeral.

Thursday morning at 9 a.m., the third general congregation was held. There were 113 cardinals present. During the session, 34 interventions were recorded. The proceedings were suspended from 10:40 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. and concluded at 12:00 p.m.

During the meeting, a change was announced regarding the celebration of the sixth day of the Novendials: Holy Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and not by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell as previously indicated.

The names of the two ecclesiastics responsible for offering the meditations in accordance with the provisions of Universi Dominici Gregis were also announced.

The first reflection, scheduled for the beginning of next week, will be given by Dom Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The second meditation, which will open the Conclave, will be given by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M., Cap., the former preacher of the pontifical household.

At the end, with a few speeches, a shared reflection on the Church and the world began. The next Congregation is scheduled for Friday at 9:00 a.m.

St. Peter's stayed open till 5:30 a.m.:

From the opening of the doors of St. Peter's Basilica to the public on Wednesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. this Thursday morning, some 48,600 people prayed with the remains of Pope Francis, Vatican media reported on April 24, 2025.

"St. Peter's Basilica remained open for the faithful to pay their respects to the remains of Pope Francis until 5:30 this morning," the press office explained. A continuous line was therefore able to pass through the doors well after the originally announced midnight closing time.

The Vatican Basilica then reopened its doors at 7:00 this morning, while lines had already formed in front of the entrances to St. Peter's Square.

During the night, between midnight and 5:30 a.m., 13,000 people crowded at the foot of the Altar of Confession where the coffin is placed.

Nearly 20,000 mourners already:

Some 19,430 people have already visited St. Peter's Basilica to pray before the body of Pope Francis on April 23, 2025, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced at around 7:45 p.m. Access was opened at 11 a.m., after the Pontiff's remains were transferred in a procession that began in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

By midday, a huge queue had formed, requiring several hours of waiting. The large crowd led the Vatican to extend the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica beyond midnight.

The basilica will also be open Thursday, April 24, from 7 a.m. to midnight, and again on Friday, April 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., before the rite of closing the coffin, scheduled for 8 p.m.

For Benedict XVI, who died on December 31, 2022, nearly 10 years after his resignation, some 200,000 faithful came to pray. In 2005, upon the death of John Paul II, more than two million faithful came. Some waited up to 24 hours before entering St. Peter's Basilica.

Given the tremendous crowd of faithful wishing to pray before the remains of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican is considering extending the opening of the Vatican Basilica beyond the previously announced time of midnight, the Holy See Press Office announced.

The Basilica was opened to the public this morning (11 a.m.), and hours later, the queue is not getting any shorter.