The funeral of Pope Francis will be held at St. Peter Square in Vatican on Saturday, before he was buried in Santa Maria Magior Basilica in Rome.
There is an official program of ceremonies for the late Pontif, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
5:30 in the morning – St. Peter Square opens.
9:30 pm – US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive at St. Peter Square.
10:00 pm – The funeral month begins. It will be chaired by the Dean of the Giavani Batista Ray, the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
Francis’ wood and zinc coffin, sealed on Friday evening, would be placed in front of the Basilica before a temporarily raised altar.
On its left, the red-robed cardinals will sit, facing St. Peter. On the right, the official delegation from all over the world, seated in the order of the alphabet.
The ceremony should last about 90 minutes, with 224 cardinals and 750 priests and bishops in appearance.
This will be in chronological order:
- Literalgical texts
- A house by Cardinal Ray
- A universal prayer in many languages
- Abhishek of bread and alcohol
- Participants exchanged the sign of peace or handshake
- Echoist
- A moment of silence
- Spraying of holy water on the coffin
At the end of the mass, the coffin will be brought inside the basilica of St. Peter.
Around 11:30 pm – Santa Maria Magirore’s coffin, Rome Basilica where Francis will be buried.
It will not be possible for the mourning to follow the funeral procession, but the members of the public will be able to see it near by the back of the metal barrier set along the route.
Horse will cover about four kilometers (2.5 mi) driving through a slow pace through the streets of Rome.
The main points along the route are:
- Porta del Perugino (A Western Gate out of Vatican City)
- River tieber
- Korso Vitorio Emmanule
- Piaza venezia
- Via dei forei Imperial
- Church
- Via labikana
- Via meralana
Around 13:00 – The coffin comes in Santa Maria Magior, where it will be welcomed by a group of “poor and needy”.
Burry, headed by Cardinal Kevin Fareel, who is running the day-to-day cases of the Vatican as Camelango until a new Pope is chosen, will take place in private.
