VATICAN CITY —The Vatican has announced that the funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time (09:00 BST), with thousands of mourners and international dignitaries expected to gather in St. Peter’s Square to pay their final respects.
The Holy See confirmed the date and time in a brief statement released Monday, adding that further details on the funeral rites and official attendees would be shared in the coming days.
Papal funerals, rich in centuries-old rituals, are typically held in the heart of the Vatican, where pilgrims from around the world converge to honor the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Global attention is now focused on Rome as tributes pour in for a pontiff widely recognized for his transformative leadership and commitment to social justice.
From Poland, President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda are expected to attend. President Duda has declared Saturday a day of national mourning, reflecting the late pope’s impact and Poland’s deep ties to the Catholic Church. The announcement was shared by Duda’s international policy advisor, Wojciech Kolarski, via X, formerly Twitter.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also confirmed he will travel to the Vatican for the funeral. The late pope, originally from Argentina, maintained a close relationship with Latin America throughout his papacy.
More world leaders are expected to announce their attendance in the lead-up to Saturday’s ceremony.