Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.
Cardinals met at the Vatican to schedule Pope Francis’ funeral and burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff’s death.
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They have decided that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.
What to know:
- The funeral and public viewing: The public viewing of Pope Francis as soon as Wednesday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the funeral set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.
- Francis’ burial site: In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.
- The next pope: Eligible cardinals will vote for a papal successor in the Sistine Chapel via a process known as “the Conclave.” The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals who are under age 80 and thus eligible to participate.