Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.
Cardinals met at the Vatican to schedule Pope Francis’ funeral and burial, planning the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff’s death.
They have decided that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.
In his final will, Francis confirmed he should be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.
Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.
The Pope died on Easter Monday, a day after he emerged to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.