What to Know About Pope Francis’ Saturday Morning Funeral

The leader of the Catholic Church died on Easter Monday.

The world mourns Pope Francis. He has died at the age of 88. The Church is now deciding which direction to take.

What to Know About Pope Francis’ Saturday Morning Funeral

The casket of Pope Francis rests sealed in St. Peter's Basilica, on Friday, April 25, 2025. Watch on EWTN at 10 a.m. Rome time on Saturday, April 26, which is 4 a.m. Eastern Time.

Today, in the Vatican and in Rome, the great mourning ceremony for Pope Francis, the procession of mourning through the streets and the funeral in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore are on display. What happens when - an overview.

The funeral and burial of a Pope follow strict rules, most recently Pope Francis has significantly simplified the rites. We answer important questions about the funeral and burial of the Pope on Saturday.

After the death of Pope Francis this Monday, the Catholic Church has completed preparations to comply with the strict funeral protocol reserved for the Supreme Pontiff. According to tradition, the funeral cannot be held before four days or beyond six, so Francis will be buried on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.Continue reading....