Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, due to a stroke and cardiac arrest. His final journey will take him to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be laid to rest. The Pope had suffered a stroke on Easter Monday, followed by a coma, and eventually succumbed to irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse at the age of 88. His death occurred after a long battle with double pneumonia, for which he had been hospitalized for 38 days.
In the days leading up to Pope Francis’ funeral, several events and rituals were planned to honor his memory. A meeting of around 60 Catholic cardinals was held, where they vowed to follow the late Pope’s funeral plans and read his final will and testament. The body of Pope Francis will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, with mourners being able to pay their respects starting Wednesday and continuing until the funeral on Saturday. The funeral Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, with other high-ranking Catholic officials officiating the service.
Pope Francis had expressed his burial wishes shortly after becoming Pope in 2013. He requested to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, without any mention of his 12-year papacy, a decision that was unique among past Popes. His will reflected his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, requesting that his tomb be simple and unadorned, with the inscription “Franciscus.” The expenses for his burial were arranged, with instructions given to ensure the arrangements were carried out according to his wishes.
The funeral services for Pope Francis will be attended by bishops, priests, cardinals, archbishops, and patriarchs from around the world. The Novemdiales, a nine-day period of prayer, mourning, and remembrance, will begin after the funeral Mass. Another funeral Mass will be held on Sunday by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The late Pope’s final journey will culminate in his burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he had requested to be laid to rest.
Despite his contentious past with Pope Francis, former President Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the funeral in Rome. The Pope’s emphasis on Catholicism globally and outreach to impoverished nations during his papacy have left a lasting impact on the Church. His testamentary will reflected his humility and devotion to the Mother of God, expressing his hope for eternal life and peace in the world. Pope Francis’ funeral is expected to be a time of solemn remembrance and reverence for a beloved figure in the Catholic Church.
