The body of the late Pope Francis is expected to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 AM to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM, the Vatican has disclosed.
A statement announcing the final funeral rites for the late Catholic Church leader stated that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside at the funeral Mass, which will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe.
According to officials, the Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, or nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul.
The late Pope’s body will then be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment.
On Wednesday April 23, 2025, the coffin containing the Pope’s body will be carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation on the same day at 9:00 AM with a moment of prayer.
The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The procession will then exit through the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door, the Vatican revealed.
The Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, after which visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will begin at the Altar of the Confession.
World leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, United States President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Zelensky, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish President Andrzej Duda, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
