Vatican Confirms Pope's Funeral

Mourners flood St.Peters square mourning the Death of Pope Francis.

The vatican has confirmed tomorrow at 8am Irish Time, the Pope's body will be moved to St. Peters Basilica and the funeral will take place at 9am Irish time on Saturday. 

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., the coffin with the deceased Roman Pontiff Francis will be transferred from the Chapel of the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ to the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, as provided for in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nn. 41-65).

After the moment of prayer, presided over by His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the transfer will begin.

The procession will pass through Piazza Santa Marta and Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani; from the Arch of the Bells it will exit into Piazza San Pietro and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door.

At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the end of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will begin.

The Patriarchs and Cardinals, wearing their proper choir dress, will be in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ at 8:45 a.m.

The Archbishops and Bishops, the Canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Ordinary Vatican Minor Penitentiaries and, in accordance with the Motu Proprio, all the members of the Pontifical Chapel, wearing their proper choir dress, will be in Piazza Santa Marta at 8:30 a.m.
 
In St. Peter's, the Funeral Mass of the Roman Pontiff Francis will be celebrated, according to what is provided for in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nn. 82-109).

The Funeral Liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
The following may concelebrate:

• The Patriarchs and Cardinals, who will be present, by 9:00 a.m., in the Chapel of San Sebastiano in the Basilica, bringing with them the white damask miter.
• The Archbishops and Bishops, who will be present, by 8:30 a.m., at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them the amice, alb, cincture and simple white miter;
• The Presbyters, who will be present, by 8:30 a.m., directly in the area reserved for them in St. Peter's Square, where they will put on the amice, alb, cincture and red stole that they have brought with them.
• At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio will take place. The coffin of the Roman Pontiff will then be taken to St. Peter's Basilica and from there to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

In accordance with the Motu Proprio, the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical Celebration without concelebrating, must be provided with the Notification.

All are required to wear their own choir dress and to be present in the churchyard of St. Peter's Basilica by 9:00 a.m., in order to occupy the place that will be indicated to them by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Cardinals have gathered at the Vatican City to discuss the funeral of Pope Francis.

It was confirmed the service will take place at 9am Irish Time on Saturday, in the square outside St Peter's Basilica.

Following the service, the conclave could meet as early as May 5th to begin the process to choose his successor.

Cardinal Fernando Filoni says they're not thinking about that yet:

St Peter's Square's been flooded with mourners, for a Vatican prayer service, following the death of Pope Francis aged 88.

In his last public appearance, Francis repeated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Father Gabriel Romanelli says the Pope called Gaza's only Catholic church 'every day' - even from hospital. 

Pope Francis is being widely remembered as bringing change to the Catholic church. 

However former President and expert in canon law Mary McAleese says there were areas where Francis could have achieved more. 

Just hours before he died, from a stroke and heart failure, he'd blessed crowds who'd gathered for Easter Sunday.
 
World leaders are remembering his commitment to marginalised communities.
 
But, during a 2018 visit to Ireland, abuses within the Church dominated conversations.
 
Survivor Marie Collins believes he cared.

The Bishop of Clonfert, Michael Duignan says he fought for those in need:

Gerard O’Connell, Vatican Correspondent for America magazine, had been friends with Pope Francis for the past 20 years.

He says his funeral will take place on the steps of St Peter's Basilica and will be a relatively simple affair compared to previous ceremonies:

Edenderry's Fr Liam Lawton performed for Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018: 

Bishop Denis Nultey from The dicoses of Kildare and Leighlin has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says Pope Francis always had a special place in his heart for the poor: 

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and longserving Laois TD for Fine Gael Charlie Flanagan travelled to Rome with president Michael D.Higgins in 2017 to meet with the Pontiff. 

 Mr Flanagan says he had no airs and graces: