This photograph taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media exhibits Pope Francis in his open coffin in The Vatican. (Picture by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)
VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Cardinals had been assembly Tuesday to set the date for Pope Francis’s funeral, as world leaders from US President Donald Trump to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned they might attend to honour the Catholic chief.
The pope was seen throughout a service Monday night within the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence the place he lived throughout his 12-year papacy, and the place he died.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Pope Francis dies at age 88
Francis was carrying his pink papal vestments, a mitre on his head and had a rosary between his fingers.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe for Francis, a liberal reformer who took over following the resignation of German theologian Benedict XVI in 2013.
His dwelling nation, Argentina, ready for per week of nationwide mourning whereas India started three days of state mourning on Tuesday — a uncommon honour for a overseas non secular chief on the planet’s most populous nation.
Heads of state and royalty are anticipated for his funeral, because of be held at St Peter’s Basilica, with Trump and France’s Emmanuel Macron the primary to announce they might attend.
On Tuesday, a supply on the Ukrainian presidency instructed AFP that Zelensky, too, would come to Rome.
The funeral ought to be held between the fourth and sixth days after the pope’s loss of life, based on the Apostolic Structure — so between Friday and Sunday this week.
However the particulars will likely be determined by the cardinals, whose first of a sequence of “basic congregations” was scheduled for 9:00 am (0700 GMT) Tuesday.
Cardinals of all ages are invited to the congregations, though solely these beneath the age of 80 are eligible to vote for a brand new pope within the conclave.
The conclave ought to start at least 15 and not more than 20 days after the loss of life of the pope.
READ: Pope Francis: What to find out about his loss of life
Easy tomb
The pope’s physique was moved into the Santa Marta chapel on Monday night, and his residence formally sealed, the Vatican mentioned.
His stays are anticipated to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica beginning Wednesday to lie in state.
Francis, who wore plain robes and eschewed the luxurious of his predecessors, has opted for a easy tomb, unadorned aside from his identify in Latin, Franciscus, based on his will launched Monday.
He will likely be buried in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, turning into the primary pope in additional than 100 years to be laid to relaxation exterior the Vatican.
His loss of life certificates launched by the Vatican mentioned Francis died of a stroke, inflicting a coma and “irreversible” coronary heart failure.
He had been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 23 and ordered to spend not less than two months resting.
However Francis, who by no means took a vacation and delighted in being amongst his flock, made quite a few public appearances in current days.
He appeared exhausted on Sunday throughout the Easter celebrations, however however greeted the crowds in his popemobile in St Peter’s Sq..
Argentine soccer nice Lionel Messi hailed his compatriot — himself an enormous fan of the attractive recreation — for “making the world a greater place”.
READ: Negrenses mourn Pope Francis’ loss of life
Eyes of God
On Monday night, 1000’s of devoted, some bringing flowers or candles, flocked to St. Peter’s Sq. at sundown to wish for Francis.
He “tried to get individuals to know it doesn’t matter your sexual orientation, your race, it doesn’t matter within the eyes of God”, Mateo Rey, 22, a Mexican scholar, instructed AFP.
“I feel that’s the closest to what Jesus meant.”
Born Jorge Bergoglio, Francis was the primary pope from the Americas and the primary Jesuit to guide the worldwide Catholic Church.
An brisk reformer, he sought to open the Church to everybody and was vastly widespread — however his views additionally sparked fierce inner opposition.
In 12 years as pope, Francis advocated tirelessly for the defence of migrants, the setting, and social justice with out questioning the Church’s positions on abortion or priestly celibacy.
Outspoken and cussed, Francis additionally sought to reform the governance of the Holy See and increase the position of ladies and lay individuals, and to wash up the Vatican’s murky funds.
Confronted with revelations of widespread little one intercourse abuse within the Church, he lifted pontifical secrecy and compelled non secular and lay individuals to report circumstances to their superiors.
Nevertheless, victims’ teams mentioned he didn’t go far sufficient.
