Pope Francis Funeral Held at St. Peter’s Square: Date, Attendees & Ceremony Details

Date and Location

• Pope Francis’ funeral was held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, the same iconic plaza where he often celebrated Mass and addressed the faithful during his papacy.

Attendance and Dignitaries

• The funeral drew an immense crowd, with Vatican estimates ranging from 200,000 to 250,000 mourners gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square, and another 150,000 lining the processional route.
• Attendees included approximately 250 cardinals, 750 bishops, over 4,000 priests, and numerous nuns.
• World leaders and dignitaries from more than 130 countries attended, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Argentine President Javier Milei, and members of European royalty.

Ceremony Highlights

• The funeral Mass was celebrated in the open air, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.
• Pope Francis’ wooden coffin, inlaid with a cross, was carried into the square by 14 pallbearers as bells tolled and the Vatican choirs sang.
• The casket was placed on a carpet before the altar, with the Book of Gospels laid on top, symbolizing Francis’ commitment to the teachings of Christ.
• The service reflected Francis’ personal wishes for simplicity and humility, emphasizing his lifelong mission to serve as a “pope among the people” and advocate for the poor and marginalized.
• Prisoners and migrants, groups close to Francis’ heart, were chosen to escort his coffin into the basilica, underscoring his pastoral priorities.

Burial and Aftermath

• After the Mass, Pope Francis’ body was taken in a funeral procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his favorite church in Rome, marking the first papal burial outside the Vatican since 1903.
• He was interred beneath a simple marble headstone, in accordance with his wishes for a modest resting place.
• The Vatican announced nine days of mourning and Masses in his honor, after which a conclave will be held to elect his successor.

Pope Francis’ Passing

• Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, following complications from a stroke and a recent battle with pneumonia.
• In the days leading up to the funeral, approximately 250,000 people visited St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects during a three-day wake.

Summary Table

Pope Francis’ funeral was a historic and deeply symbolic event, reflecting his vision of a humble, inclusive Church and drawing together people from all walks of life and corners of the globe to honor his legacy.