International

Pope Francis: Funeral plans, will, conclave timeline

The Congregation of Cardinals has set Pope Francis's funeral for Saturday, April 26, starting at 10:00 AM (local time, 11:00 AM Moldova time), the French channel BFMTV reports.

The Vatican publishes the first images and testament of Pope Francis: "The grave must be in the ground, simple"

The ceremony will take place at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and will bring together political leaders, religious dignitaries, and thousands of faithful from around the world.

Pope Francis's body is currently in the chapel of his residence at Casa Santa Marta, and will be transferred Wednesday morning to St. Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewing.

The Vatican published the first images of Pope Francis's body on Tuesday morning, the same day the Congregation of Cardinals was meeting to decide the date of the sovereign pontiff's funeral. Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, on Easter Monday. According to tradition, the burial is expected to take place between the fourth and sixth day after death.

The Pope's will was made public that same evening, immediately after his apartment in the Apostolic Palace was sealed according to protocol. In the document signed on June 29, 2022, the sovereign pontiff expressed his wish to be buried in the simplest possible way, in the ground, in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, near the icon of the Virgin Mary "Salus Populi Romani".

"The tomb should be in the ground, simple, without any special ornament and with a single inscription: Franciscus," the Pope wrote in his will. He also indicated the exact spot where he wished to be buried – between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica – a sanctuary where he habitually prayed at the beginning and end of each apostolic journey.

The Argentine pontiff also mentioned that the suffering he endured in the last part of his life was offered to the Lord "for peace in the world and fraternity among peoples." At the same time, he entrusted his priestly and episcopal life and mission to the Mother of God.

The burial expenses will be covered by a donation directed by the Pope to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, according to instructions left to the extraordinary commissioner of the Liberian Chapter, Monsignor Rolandas Makrickas.

The funeral ceremony will be attended by leaders from around the world. US President Donald Trump announced he will fly to Rome with his wife to attend the funeral. Also present will be Javier Milei, the president of Argentina – the Pope's homeland – as well as the president of France, Emmanuel Macron.

In parallel, preparations are also underway for the conclave to elect the new sovereign pontiff. According to the procedures of the Roman Catholic Church, it will begin between May 5 and 10, and approximately 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the secret ballot which can last several days.

In accordance with Catholic tradition, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Church, sealed the pontiff's private apartments on Monday – both the office and bedroom in the Apostolic Palace, and the residence at Casa Santa Marta. The seals were applied with red ribbon and wax, thus marking the official period of sede vacante – the interval between the death of a pope and the election of his successor.

Pope Francis died of a stroke on Monday, April 21, at age 88, the Vatican officially announced. The stroke occurred amidst his convalescence from double pneumonia, for which he had been hospitalized for 38 days.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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