The first South American pope, Francis, passed away last Monday at the age of 88, less than a month after being discharged from a Rome hospital where he was treated for severe pneumonia. Over the past three days, approximately 250,000 mourners visited the 16th-century Saint Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects as his body lay in an open casket.
Renowned for his modesty during his papacy, Francis chose a simple funeral, rewriting traditional Vatican rites to reflect his preference for humility. While Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 lasted three hours, Saturday’s ceremony concluded in just 90 minutes.
The open-air funeral was attended by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops, and more than 4,000 priests, lasting about 90 minutes.
Over 160 delegations participated, including heads of state, government leaders, and royalty, among them US President Donald Trump—who had clashed with Pope Francis over immigration.
Following the funeral Mass led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista, the coffin of Pope Francis was carried through the streets to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in central Rome. The late pontiff had chosen this majestic fifth-century church, which already holds the remains of seven previous popes, as his final resting place.
The Vatican announced a nine-day mourning period beginning Saturday. During this time, daily solemn ceremonies will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica, culminating on Sunday, May 4.
Following the funeral, focus now shifts to the College of Cardinals. A total of 135 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 are expected to meet in closed sessions to elect Pope Francis’s successor.
While the official date for the start of the conclave has not yet been confirmed, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, a Jesuit and close advisor to Francis, suggested the process could begin on May 5 or 6.
Cardinals, who have already started arriving from around the world, will gather in the Sistine Chapel and hold four voting sessions per day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon — until a new pope is chosen.
