Pope Francis’s funeral to be held on Saturday, World leaders expected

Pope Francis’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, as Roman Catholic cardinals decided on Tuesday, preparing for a somber event that will attract leaders globally.

Francis, 88, passed away suddenly on Monday after experiencing a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to the Vatican, concluding a frequently turbulent tenure marked by his ongoing conflicts with traditionalists while advocating for the poor and the marginalized.

The pope was hospitalized for five weeks earlier this year due to double pneumonia. However, he came back to the Vatican nearly a month ago and appeared to be improving, showing up in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Vatican published images of Francis in his vestments, resting in a wooden coffin within the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he resided throughout his 12-year papacy. Swiss Guards are positioned on both sides of the casket.

His body will be brought into the nearby St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), in a procession headed by cardinals, enabling the faithful to say their final goodbyes to the first Latin American pope. His funeral ceremony will take place in St. Peter’s Square, beneath the Basilica, on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT).

U.S. President Donald Trump, who had ongoing disputes with the pope regarding immigration, stated that he and his wife would travel to Rome for the ceremony. Other heads of state expected to attend include Javier Milei, president of Francis’ birthplace Argentina, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as per a source from his office.