The Vatican has officially announced that Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, the same place where he once captivated the world with his humility, compassion, and unwavering voice for the voiceless.

A Nation of Faith in Mourning

From the moment the news of his passing broke on Easter Monday, waves of grief have swept across the globe. Now, tens of thousands of mourners are expected to gather in Rome for one final glimpse of a man who reshaped the modern Catholic Church with courage, warmth, and bold reform.

His body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday evening, giving the faithful time to say goodbye, to pray, and to reflect.

Candles flicker beside photos and handwritten notes placed by pilgrims from every corner of the world. The air outside the basilica is quiet — reverent — yet heavy with the weight of a loss felt far beyond the walls of the Vatican.

A Funeral for the Ages

Saturday’s funeral Mass will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, one of the Church’s most senior cardinals. The service is expected to draw a massive global audience — not just in person, but via live broadcast to millions of homes, churches, and communities around the world.

World leaders including the presidents of the United States, France, Germany, Ukraine, and Pope Francis’ native Argentina are set to attend the service in person, honoring the life of a leader whose reach extended far beyond religion.

It is only the second time in modern history that a reigning pope has presided over the funeral of his predecessor — a reminder of the extraordinary nature of this moment in time.

A Legacy Etched in Grace

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office. His papacy was defined by a radical return to the Gospel’s core values: mercy, service, humility, and love.

He lived simply, spoke plainly, and challenged injustice wherever he saw it — from the halls of power to the edges of the forgotten.

He comforted the grieving, washed the feet of prisoners, and spoke with tenderness to children, refugees, and the poor.

As the world prepares to say goodbye, it does so with the deep understanding that Pope Francis didn’t just lead a Church — he touched hearts. He moved nations. He made faith feel human again.