Vatican City – The Catholic Church mourns Pope Francis, the Argentine pontiff who died Monday at age 88 following a stroke. His death occurred weeks after he recovered from double pneumonia. The Vatican confirmed the Pope Francis funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square.
World leaders plan to attend the funeral. US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed they will be present. After the service, Pope Francis’s coffin, made of wood and zinc per his request, will be taken to Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica for burial. He will be the first pope in over a century buried outside the Vatican.
Preparations, Tributes, and Papal Succession
The Vatican released images showing the late pope lying in state in his open coffin. He is dressed in red papal vestments with a mitre and holds a rosary. The process to choose his successor started Tuesday. Cardinals met to begin the conclave process, which must elect a new pope within three weeks.
Tributes arrived from many countries. Argentina declared a week of national mourning. India observed three days of state mourning, an unusual honor for a foreign religious leader. Football player Lionel Messi praised the pope for “making the world a better place,” reflecting respect for Francis’s work on social justice and environmental issues. The Pope Francis funeral draws international attention.
Legacy of the First Pope from the Americas
Born Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis was the first pontiff from the Americas and the first Jesuit leader of the Church. During his 12-year papacy, he worked for Church reform, promoted inclusivity, and faced internal resistance.
He is remembered for supporting migrants, calling for environmental action like the Laudato Si’ encyclical, and working on Vatican financial transparency. He also addressed the clergy abuse crisis. Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square after his death. A Mexican student commented on his message: “He tried to get people to understand it doesn’t matter your sexual orientation, your race, it doesn’t matter in the eyes of God.” The Pope Francis funeral prompts reflection on his papacy.
Abiodun Labi
