As the world prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis on Saturday, President Trump and First Lady Melania have announced they will attend the pontiff’s funeral.
See the tweet below.
The public viewing of Pope Francis’s body begins Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday morning, following his death at age 88 from a stroke and heart failure on Easter Monday.
Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local time (8:00 a.m. GMT) in St. Peter’s Square.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will lead the service, and thousands, including world leaders, royalty, and the faithful from around the globe, are expected to attend.
The Vatican announced that President Trump and Melania confirmed their attendance, while, notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be present at the ceremony.
“We look forward to being there!” Trump said regarding their attendance at the Pope’s funeral.
The Pope’s body will lie in state for public viewing from Wednesday through Friday, giving Catholics and visitors the opportunity to pay their final respects.
Unlike previous papal arrangements, there will be no private viewing for cardinals, as Pope Francis specifically requested a simpler, more humble farewell.
The Pope’s body will be displayed in an open wooden casket rather than elevated on a pedestal, reflecting his lifelong commitment to humility and rejection of pomp.
Breaking with centuries of tradition, Pope Francis requested burial in a single wooden casket at St. Mary Major Basilica instead of the traditional triple-coffin burial in St. Peter’s grottoes.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi explained the Pope’s reasoning: “He wanted to be buried under the shadow of a woman, in this case Maria.”
This decision reflects Francis’s deep devotion to the Virgin Mary while challenging the Vatican’s established funeral protocols.
Following the funeral, the Vatican will observe nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.”
After this period of mourning, the process of selecting a new pope will begin. Cardinals under age 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, where they will cast ballots until a two-thirds majority is reached.
Pope Francis' funeral to be held Saturday, with public viewing starting Wednesday https://t.co/X0TNHrzjoN
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 22, 2025
The conclave is expected to start between 15 and 20 days after Pope Francis’s death, with the announcement of a new pope signaled by white smoke and the proclamation “Habemus Papam.”
Pope Francis, who became the first Latin American pope when elected in 2013, served a 12-year papacy focused on caring for the poor and marginalized.
Although liberals praised him for his outreach to immigrants and environmental advocacy, many traditional Catholics criticized his progressive leanings on certain social issues and his attempts to modernize Church doctrine.
Bells tolled worldwide, flags flew at half-staff in his honor, and soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were suspended as a sign of respect.
The Pope’s last public appearance was on Easter, when he delivered a blessing from his popemobile.
Moreover, Vatican officials described his passing as “a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm.”
As the Church prepares to elect a new leader, many observers wonder whether the next pope will continue Francis’s progressive reforms or return to more traditional Catholic values and teachings.
