Pope Francis’ Last Rites on Saturday: World Leaders Mourn Death

April 23, 2025

Those cardinals are the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Polish Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the St. Mary Major basilica where Francis will be buried, and Cardinal Fabio Baggio, a top official in the Vatican’s development and migrants’ office. They will be replaced after three days with another three cardinals to help the interim Vatican administrator.

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Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to plan the conclave to elect his successor and to make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday, April 23, in St. Peter’s Basilica, days after the popular pontiff died at age 88.

History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. He last appeared in public on Sunday, April 20, with an Easter blessing and a popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to plan the conclave to elect his successor and to make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

The Vatican says around 60 cardinals participated in the first meeting to decide next steps following the death of Pope Francis. They decided that ordinary faithful can pay their respects starting when the casket is moved into St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, and set Saturday for the funeral and burial.

The cardinals haven’t set a date for the conclave to elect Francis’ successor, but the current norms suggest it couldn’t begin before May 5. Three cardinals were chosen to help the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, administer the Vatican during the “interregnum” period before the election of a new pope.

Those cardinals are the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Polish Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the St. Mary Major basilica where Francis will be buried, and Cardinal Fabio Baggio, a top official in the Vatican’s development and migrants’ office. They will be replaced after three days with another three cardinals to help the interim Vatican administrator.

China expresses condolences for a pope who tried to mend the Beijing-Vatican rift. China expressed condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, who reached out to Beijing to improve relations and mend a seven-decade rift between a state-recognised Catholic church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “China is ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties.”