Date for the Burial of Pope Francis Set

The funeral service for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at 10:00 AM in Rome, according to the Vatican on Tuesday morning. The burial liturgy will be presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Afterwards, Francis will be laid to rest in his favorite Roman church, Santa Maria Maggiore.

Farewell to Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica

As early as Wednesday morning, the Pope's body will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica starting at 9:00 AM. In a procession, high-ranking church officials will accompany the coffin from the chapel in the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica. Soon after, people will be allowed to pay their respects to the deceased Pope there. Meanwhile, Francis's body has been laid out in the chapel of his residence Santa Marta. Cardinals, members of the Curia, and Vatican employees can pay their respects at the open coffin. As seen in the first photos released by the Vatican, the coffin is placed in front of an altar. Francis often celebrated early morning Mass at this altar. According to the Vatican, the deceased Pope is dressed in a red robe and a white bishop's mitre. A rosary is wrapped around his folded hands. A member of the Swiss Guard stands watch on either side.

Five-Day National Mourning in Italy Following the Death of Pope Francis

Following the death of the Holy Father, Italy decided on Tuesday to declare a five-day national mourning period. This was announced at a cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Due to the funeral ceremonies with the burial on Saturday, strict security measures are in place in the Italian capital. The government clarified that the ceremonies organized for Italy's national holiday on Friday will proceed in "sobriety." Italy celebrates "Liberation Day" every year on April 25th, marking the liberation of the country from fascism and Nazi occupation at the end of World War II. Large events are planned for the 80th anniversary.

Numerous State Guests Expected for the Funeral of Pope Francis

The Meloni government is allocating five million euros for the Pope's funeral ceremony, which is expected to be attended by heads of state and government from around the world. The Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, stated that it is not yet possible to estimate how many people will travel to Rome for the funeral ceremony, but special traffic measures are already being planned. US President Donald Trump will make his first foreign trip of his second term for the funeral, accompanied by his wife Melania. The heads of state of Ukraine and France, Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron, as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also plan to travel to Rome.

The outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also travel to Rome, as a government spokeswoman announced. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed any speculation about the participation of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "No, the President has no such plans," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in response to a question from Russian journalists. It has not yet been decided who Moscow will send to the funeral on Saturday, he added. The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023. The Kremlin chief is wanted for the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Crowds Flocked to Santa Maria Maggiore Church After the Death of Pope Francis

Additionally, on Tuesday, crowds flocked to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica where the Pope, as stipulated in his will, will be buried. In the Pauline Chapel, where the Marian icon "Salus populi romani" is kept, a mass in memory of the Pope was held. The "Miserere" was sung during the service. At the entrance of the basilica near the main train station Termini, there is a lectern with a signature book where people could leave a personal farewell message for the Pope. A large photo of the Pope with his birth and death dates was displayed.

From the nave, a bright wooden structure can be seen on the left, containing a side door locked with a padlock. From here, the future grave of Francis can be seen. "The Pope wanted to be buried in this basilica because of his strong devotion to Mary. It is a modest place. We are ready to receive the Pope's body," explained Valentino Miserachs, who is responsible for the basilica. Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore more than 100 times during his twelve-year pontificate. Before each of his foreign trips, he prayed at the presumably late antique Marian image "Salus Populi Romani" (Protector of the Roman People) - most recently on the eve of Palm Sunday.

First Withdrawal from Conclave After the Death of Pope Francis

Meanwhile, the former Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo), Cardinal Vinko Puljic (79), announced his withdrawal from the upcoming conclave. He will not be able to come to Rome for health reasons, Puljic told the Croatian newspaper "Vecernji list" according to Kathpress. "The doctors advise against it, and I do not intend to travel to Rome unless the Vatican explicitly requests it," said the Cardinal. Pope Francis was "the morally strongest authority in the nightmare of war, where hope is indeed killed," Puljic was also quoted by the Croatian broadcaster HRT on the death of the Pope. "He tirelessly spoke out against armament, against war, against terror, thus having a special message for humanity." At the same time, Puljic caused a stir with a remark that Francis left behind "numerous memories, but also many disappointments" after his death. He did not specify what these disappointments were. Puljic led the Catholic Archdiocese of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1990 to 2022.

(APA/Red)

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