Pope Francis To Be Laid To Rest On Saturday At Rome's St Peter's Basilica; Trump To Attend Funeral

Pope Francis' funeral will take place on Saturday at 10 am local time in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica's.

The announcement was made by the Vatican on Tuesday, a day after the Pope's passing at the age of 88.

Source : PTI

Pope Francis will be laid to rest on Saturday, announced the Vatican on Tuesday a day after the 88-year-old pontiff breathed his last. 

The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at 10:00 am local time (1:30 pm IST)  in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican announced, reported AFP. 

The first Latin American pontiff died on Easter Monday following a stroke and a subsequent irreversible heart failure, the Vatican said in a statement earlier. 

Francis died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli stated in the death certificate. 

Pope Francis' Open Coffin 

On Tuesday, the Vatican released photos of Pope Francis in an open coffin, dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand. The coffin is currently laid out in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence where he lived during his 12-year papacy. 

On Wednesday morning, his mortal remains will be taken to Rome's St Peter's Basilica at 9 am local time, where he had wished to be buried. 

Pope Francis' funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter's Basilica and the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

At the end of the funeral, Re will deliber the final commendation - a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God - and the body moved to St Mary Major for the burial.

Attendees At The Funeral

US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he will be attending the funeral of the Pope in Rome along with First Lady Melania Trump. 

“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there," he said. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has also confirmed that he will be there at the funeral and so has Argentinian President Javier Milei. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to fly to Rome, reported BBC.