Pope Francis's Funeral to Be Held on Saturday, Many World Leaders Expected

Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday in St. Peter's Square, as decided by Roman Catholic cardinals on Tuesday, setting the stage for a solemn ceremony that is expected to attract leaders from around the globe.

Francis, 88, died unexpectedly on Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, concluding a tumultuous papacy marked by clashes with traditionalists and a strong advocacy for the poor and marginalized. Earlier this year, the pontiff spent five weeks in the hospital recovering from double pneumonia, but had returned to the Vatican nearly a month ago and appeared to be on the mend, having appeared in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Vatican released photographs of Francis dressed in vestments and laid in a wooden coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12 years as pope, flanked by Swiss Guards.

His body will be transferred to the adjacent St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), in a procession led by cardinals, allowing the faithful to pay their last respects to the first Latin American pope.

The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) in St. Peter's Square, in the shadow of the Basilica. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has had repeated disagreements with the pope over immigration issues, announced that he and his wife would travel to Rome for the service. Other heads of state expected to attend include Javier Milei, the president of Francis's native Argentina; Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to a source in his office.

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Ancient Rituals

In a departure from tradition, Francis expressed in his final testament, released on Monday, that he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major rather than in St. Peter's, where many of his predecessors are interred.

His sudden death has initiated a series of ancient rituals as the 1.4-billion-member Church embarks on the transition from one pope to another. This includes breaking the pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and the lead seal used during his lifetime to seal documents, rendering them unusable by anyone else.

On Tuesday, all cardinals in Rome were summoned to a meeting to determine the sequence of events in the coming days and to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Church prior to the election of a new pope. A conclave to elect the new pope typically occurs 15 to 20 days after a pontiff's death, which means it should not begin before May 6.

Approximately 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the secretive voting process, which can extend over several days, culminating when white smoke appears from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to signal the selection of the new pope. Currently, there is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis.

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Progressive Papacy

Pope Francis inherited a Church in disarray and diligently worked to reform the Vatican's central administration, combat corruption, and, after a slow start, address the issue of child abuse within the priesthood. He often found himself in conflict with conservative factions nostalgic for a more traditional Church, viewing Francis as overly liberal and accommodating toward marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ community.

Notably, Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose his successor, which increases, but does not guarantee, the likelihood that his successor will continue his progressive agenda.

Many of the cardinals are relatively unknown outside their countries and will have the opportunity to connect during meetings known as General Congregations prior to the conclave. These gatherings will help shape a profile of the qualities desired in the next pope.

The Vatican announced late Monday that staff and officials within the Holy See could begin to pay their respects before the pope's body at the Santa Marta residence, where Francis lived since his election in 2013, opting for modesty over the grand Apostolic Palace traditionally occupied by his predecessors.