World leaders to attend Pope Francis funeral at the Vatican on Saturday

Pope Francis funeral to take place at St. Peter’s Square as tributes pour in from across the globe.

Faithful attend a rosary prayer in memory of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 21, 2025. Photo by Massimo Valicchia/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Vatican has announced that the Pope Francis funeral will take place this Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square, where world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to gather to honor the late Catholic leader. The announcement came Tuesday, just one day after Pope Francis died at age 88 following a stroke, capping a papacy marked by reform, humility, and a global reach of compassion.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, passed away on Monday less than a month after leaving the hospital following a prolonged bout with double pneumonia. He had led the Roman Catholic Church for twelve years, during which he consistently advocated for migrants, social justice, environmental protection, and transparency within the Church’s administration.

A historic farewell

The Pope Francis funeral will begin in St. Peter’s Square, with the ceremony conducted in front of the iconic basilica. According to the Vatican, the pontiff’s coffin — made of wood and zinc, as per his instructions — will be carried into the church before being transferred to Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, where he will be buried. His decision to be laid to rest outside the Vatican marks a historical first in over a century.

The date and location of the funeral were finalized during the initial “general congregation” of cardinals, which also triggered the traditional process to elect a new pope. That process will culminate in a conclave expected to be held between 15 to 20 days after his death, involving only cardinals under the age of 80.

Outpouring of grief from around the globe

Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed Pope Francis lying in repose at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the residence he chose over the more opulent papal apartments. Wearing red vestments, a mitre, and holding a rosary, his image struck a solemn figure for the millions mourning across the world.

Crowds began gathering almost immediately in St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects. Thousands of faithful lit candles and prayed silently. Among them was Mateo Rey, a 22-year-old Mexican student, who said, “He tried to get people to understand that it doesn’t matter your sexual orientation or your race. In the eyes of God, everyone matters.”

Many nations declared official periods of mourning in his honor. Argentina, his homeland, announced a full week of national mourning, while India declared three days of mourning — a rare tribute for a foreign religious figure.

High-level attendance and security preparations

The Pope Francis funeral is expected to draw an extensive list of international dignitaries, from heads of state to royalty. President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron were among the first to confirm attendance, even before the funeral date was officially released. Ukrainian sources later confirmed President Zelensky’s attendance as well, underscoring Pope Francis’s broad diplomatic impact.

Given the anticipated turnout, security measures around the Vatican are expected to be extensive. Italian authorities are coordinating closely with Vatican officials to ensure the safety of the event, which may draw tens of thousands of mourners to central Rome.

A papacy defined by reform and accessibility

Francis was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to assume the role. His papacy will be remembered for its progressive outreach and moral clarity on pressing issues. Though he never diverged from Church doctrine on topics like abortion and celibacy, his tone and emphasis shifted significantly.

He was a vocal advocate for climate action, social equity, and compassion for migrants. He emphasized the need for financial transparency in the Vatican and took strong positions against corruption. While lauded for lifting pontifical secrecy and urging mandatory reporting of clerical abuse, some victims’ groups felt his reforms did not go far enough.

Still, many praised his moral leadership. Lionel Messi, Argentina’s football icon, called him a beacon of light, stating, “He made the world a better place.”

Legacy beyond the Vatican walls

In choosing to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, Pope Francis symbolically distanced himself from the power structures of the Vatican. Known for wearing plain white robes and refusing luxurious papal accommodations, he opted for simplicity even in death. According to his will, his tomb will bear only the Latin version of his name: Franciscus.

This choice is consistent with his broader approach — a focus on humility, accessibility, and service to others. Francis once said, “The shepherd must smell like the sheep,” a line that defined much of his time as pontiff.

A final journey for the people’s pope

On Wednesday morning, the pope’s body will be moved from Casa Santa Marta to lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. Tens of thousands are expected to file past his coffin in the coming days.

Despite health warnings from doctors advising at least two months of rest, Pope Francis remained active in the final weeks of his life. He appeared in public for Palm Sunday and again on Easter Sunday, visibly fatigued but determined to greet the faithful. His last appearance was marked by a drive around St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile.

With Saturday’s funeral, the Church and the world will say farewell to a man who reshaped the papacy and reached millions through his words and actions.

As the conclave looms and speculation swirls about his successor, one thing remains clear: Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy not of institutional grandeur, but of human connection. The impact of his life and leadership will continue to resonate long after the bells of St. Peter’s toll for his final mass.