The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.
The funeral of the deceased 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
Cardinals gathered at the Vatican on Tuesday to plan the funeral of Pope Francis.
Francis died suddenly on Monday after suffering a stroke and heart failure, the Vatican said, ending a sometimes turbulent reign for the 88-year-old pope who often clashed with conservative forces within the church and championed the rights of the poor and marginalized.
The pope spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year with double pneumonia. But he returned to the Vatican nearly a month ago and appeared to be recovering. He appeared in St. Peter's Square the day before his death, on Easter Sunday.
The Vatican released the first photos on Tuesday of his body lying in a wooden coffin in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, where he lived during his 12-year papacy. A Swiss Guard member stands on each side of the coffin.
The Pope's departure has set in motion a centuries-old process that will result in the election of a new leader for the world's 1,4 billion Catholics. During that process, the Pope's Fisherman's Ring, which he used to seal documents, will be destroyed so that no one can use it again.
All cardinals currently in Rome have been invited to meet at 9 a.m. local time to plan the pope's farewell.
"We have been invited to talk about the organization. We will see what will follow," said Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni ahead of the congregation.
"The most important thing is prayer. Let's see the pope off with our prayers," he added to reporters.
US President Donald Trump, often at odds with the Pope over immigration, has announced that he and his wife will arrive in Rome for the Pope's funeral.
The arrival was also announced by the president of Francis' homeland, Argentina, Javier Miel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In his will, Francis expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, rather than in Saint Peter's Basilica, thus breaking with the previous tradition.
At their meeting, the cardinals will also discuss the management of the daily affairs of the Church in the period until a new head is elected.
The conclave to elect a new pope is usually held between 15 and 20 days after the death of the Holy Father, which means that it will not be called before May 6. 135 cardinals have the right to participate in this secret ballot, which can be extended over several days.
Photo: EPA/MASSIMO PERCOSSI
