What will Pope Francis’ funeral be like?

Now that Pope Francis has passed away in the early hours of April 21, here is a detailed account of how his funeral will be held. The outline can be found in the Ordo exsequiarum romani pontificis, a 175-page manual published by the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Roman Pontiff.

The day and time of the funeral Mass — Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. local time — was determined in the first general congregation of cardinals on Tuesday, April 22. These meetings of all the cardinals, convened by the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, must be held as soon as possible after the announcement of the pope's death.

The ritual for the burial of Pope Francis began at the residence of the deceased pope — the apartment at Casa Santa Marta. His body was embalmed and dressed in a white cassock, then transferred to his private chapel.

There, the rite of “ascertainment of death” took place on Monday evening. Those present were the cardinal camerlengo, the dean of the College of Cardinals, the master of papal liturgical celebrations, the pontiff's close associates, and the director of the Vatican City State Health Department.

During the liturgy, the body was dressed in red liturgical vestments and placed in a double coffin of zinc and wood, with the papal mitre and pallium — a white woolen scarf decorated with red crosses. The death certificate was drawn up and viewing hours were established for those who wish to pay their respects at the site.

On Wednesday morning, April 23, the pope's double coffin was carried in procession to St. Peter's Basilica, and placed near the high altar — the Confession of St. Peter — sprinkled with holy water and incensed. The body will remain on display there so that the faithful who wish to come and pay their respects — some coming from far away — may do so.

After the 2024 reform of the ritual, the pope's body, in the basilica, will no longer be displayed on a raised platform. Instead, it will remain in the open coffin — as is customary for the funeral of any bishop — and without the papal ferula (the pope's crozier, in the shape of a cross).

The rite specifies that the double coffin is to be closed in the presence of the cardinal camerlengo before the funeral Mass — if possible, on the previous evening. This rite is performed in the presence of the cardinals who are heads of the three orders (the order of cardinal bishops, the order of cardinal priests, and the order of cardinal deacons), the archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, the former cardinal secretary of state (relieved of his duties upon the death of the pope), the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, the Prefect of the Papal Household, the Papal Almoner, the Vice-Camerlengo, representatives of the chapter of canons and confessors of the basilica, the secretary of the pontiff, and his relatives.

After the introduction given by the cardinal chamberlain, the master of pontifical celebrations reads the “Rogito,” a short text he has written summarizing the life and important works of the deceased. Those present sign two copies, one to be placed in the coffin and the other to be kept in the Vatican archives.

The master of papal celebrations then covers the face of the deceased pontiff with a white silk veil, and the cardinal chamberlain sprinkles the body with holy water. The master of pontifical celebrations places in the coffin a purse containing coins minted with the image of the pope during his pontificate and the sealed Rogito, rolled up in a metal tube.

Psalm 42 is recited while the first zinc lid of the coffin is placed on top. This lid is engraved with the cross, the coat of arms of the deceased, and a plaque bearing the name of the pontiff, the duration of his life, and that of his pontificate. The zinc coffin is welded and sealed, stamped with four seals: that of the Camerlengo, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office for Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and the Vatican Chapter.

The second wooden coffin, bearing the cross and coat of arms of the pontiff, is also closed. It will be sealed only at the time of burial, after the funeral Mass.

Everything is then ready for the funeral Mass, celebrated in red liturgical vestments. The dean of the College of Cardinals will preside. If he is unable to attend, the vice-dean or the most senior cardinal elector will replace him. This celebration takes place on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica, where the coffin is brought during the entrance procession to be placed in front of the altar. A book of the Gospels is placed on top.

For the Liturgy of the Word, the rite provides the following readings: Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9—or during Eastertide, as will be the case for Pope Francis, Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 23; Philippians 3:20-4:1; and the Gospel of John 21:15-19, where Christ asks the apostle Peter, “Do you love me?” The presider then delivers the homily.

This is followed by the universal prayer, which includes six intentions: for the deceased pope, for the Church, for all nations, for the souls of all deceased popes and priests, for all the faithful departed, and for the entire assembly.

After Communion, the final rite of the ultima commendatio et valedictio (last entrusting of the deceased to God and the last goodbye) takes place, opened and concluded by the dean of the cardinals. This moment includes the “supplication of the Church of Rome,” a long litany of saints — with more than a hundred invocations — presided over by the cardinal vicar, and the “supplication of the Eastern Churches,” with representatives of the Eastern Catholic Churches, according to the Byzantine liturgy, in Greek.

A time of silent prayer follows, before the dean of the cardinals sprinkles the coffin with holy water and incenses it again. The assembly then sings the Magnificat and various psalms while the coffin is carried in procession for the final part of the funeral.

The coffin is transported to the place of burial. If the pontiff is to be buried in the Vatican grottoes, under St. Peter's Basilica, his body is accompanied by the cardinal chamberlain, the cardinals heads of the three orders, the archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, the former cardinal secretary of state, the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, the Prefect of the Papal Household, the Apostolic Almoner, the Vice-Camerlengo, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, representatives of the chapter of canons of the basilica, and the relatives of the deceased pontiff.

However, Pope Francis chose to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The Office for Liturgical Celebrations will therefore have to specify the arrangements and the list of those who will accompany the body.

In the underground chapels — or wherever the pontiff will be buried — the cardinal chamberlain, covered with a red cope, presides over a final prayer for the soul of the deceased Successor of Peter. This short celebration includes intercessions for the repose of the deceased and the recitation of the Our Father.

Then the wooden coffin, which covers the zinc coffin, is stamped with the seals of the camerlengo, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office for Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and, when the pope is buried in the Vatican grottoes, the Vatican Chapter.

The coffin is placed in the tomb and sprinkled with holy water while the Salve Regina hymn is sung. If the burial takes place in St. Peter's, the notary of the Basilica Chapter draws up the authentic act of burial and reads it in front of those present. The cardinal chamberlain, the prefect of the Papal Household, the master of papal ceremonies, and the notary sign the document certifying the burial.

The funeral Mass is the first of the “novendiali” Masses, celebrated in honor of the sovereign pontiff. For nine days, an ancient tradition calls for nine Masses, three of which are entrusted to the Papal Chapel, and the others to the faithful of Vatican City, the Church of Rome, the chapters of the patriarchal basilicas, the Roman Curia, the Eastern Churches, and members of institutes of consecrated life.