Today, Rome stands still as the funeral of Pope Francis, the beloved first Latin American pontiff, commences in St. Peter’s Square at 10:00 AM. The ceremony, unfolding under a clear spring sky, marks the final chapter of a 12-year papacy defined by humility, compassion, and a tireless voice for the marginalized. Following his death on Easter Monday, April 21, at age 88 from a stroke and cardiac arrest, the world has converged on the Eternal City to honor a leader whose simplicity reshaped the Catholic Church.
As the clock strikes 10:00 AM, the funeral Mass begins, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals. St. Peter’s Square, already swelling with over 200,000 mourners by dawn, hosts a liturgy stripped of excess pomp—a reflection of Francis’s own wishes. In a single wooden coffin lined with zinc, his body lies at ground level, dressed in papal vestments and covered with a silk veil, facing the faithful rather than elevated in grandeur. This morning’s rite follows the updated *Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis*, revised by Francis in 2024 to emphasize his role as a “pastor and disciple” over a figure of worldly power.
The Eucharist will soon give way to the *Ultima Commendatio* and *Valedictio*, closing the Mass and ushering in the *Novemdiales*, nine days of mourning Masses. The air is thick with anticipation as pilgrims, clutching rosaries and photos of the late pope, join in prayer under the watchful gaze of Bernini’s colonnade.
Later today, after the Mass concludes, Francis’s coffin will leave St. Peter’s Square for its final resting place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, breaking with centuries of tradition. This marks the first time in over 100 years a pope will be buried outside the Vatican, and the first at St. Mary Major since the 17th century. His devotion to this Marian shrine, where he prayed before and after every international trip, culminates in this choice. The procession—its route still under wraps—will wind through Rome’s ancient streets, offering the faithful one last glimpse as his simple tomb, inscribed only with “Franciscus,” is prepared.
Right now, dignitaries from 170 nations fill the square alongside the faithful. U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William, standing in for King Charles III, are among the notable attendees, joined by Irish President Michael D. Higgins, Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Security is tight, with over 2,000 police officers, sharpshooters, and anti-drone units deployed across Rome. A no-fly zone blankets the city, and 400 traffic officers manage the chaos of diplomatic convoys and pilgrims.
The past few days have seen over 130,000 people file past Francis’s body in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he lay in state since Wednesday. Last night, the Vatican extended visiting hours beyond midnight to accommodate the crowds, a testament to his enduring connection with the faithful.
As the morning progresses and the funeral Mass ends, the focus will shift. The procession to St. Mary Major will begin, and by afternoon, Francis will be laid to rest. The city, under a five-day mourning period ending today, will slowly return to normalcy, though the echo of this moment will linger. In the coming days, attention will turn to the conclave, set to start no earlier than May 5, where 135 cardinals—most appointed by Francis—will elect his successor.
This morning, as Rome bids farewell to Pope Francis, the world witnesses the close of a papacy that defied convention. From rejecting the Apostolic Palace for a modest guesthouse to this final, humble send-off, Francis’s life and death reflect a Church he sought to make more human, more accessible. As the bells of St. Peter’s toll and the procession prepares to depart, the global Catholic community of 1.4 billion pauses to honor a pontiff whose legacy of service and simplicity will resonate for generations.
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