Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. Rome time, and here’s everything you need to know about the event.
The ceremony will be held at St. Peter’s Square with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding over the Mass, incorporating traditional rites with Pope Francis’s personal modifications, such as a simpler service with a single wooden coffin. The Mass will include prayers in multiple languages and will conclude with Pope Francis’s burial at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in line with his wish for simplicity.
For viewers, major networks such as NBC, CBS, CNN, and ABC will broadcast the event, with the Vatican’s YouTube channel offering a live stream. International outlets like CBC Television (Canada), Sky News and BBC (UK), and Globo News (Brazil) will also provide coverage.
The funeral will be a highly structured event, with dignitaries and heads of state seated according to strict protocols. The seating chart will follow alphabetical order, with representatives from Italy and Argentina occupying front-row seats, while U.S. President Donald Trump will be placed away from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to avoid diplomatic tensions. Strict dress codes will also be in place, with men wearing dark suits and women in black dresses with veils.
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