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Under the bright Roman sun and amid crowds extending down the Via della Conciliazione, the funeral Mass unfolded within the great colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Saturday’s funeral will kick off the traditional Novendiales, nine consecutive days of mourning for the suffrage of the late pope. He will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
The first of thousands of pilgrims were already lining up along the streets to catch a glimpse of the late pontiff as his body passes by on the way to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, presided over the rite of the closing and sealing of the coffin.
Pope Francis’ 47 apostolic journeys brought him to 68 countries during his pontificate — many of which included a number of papal firsts.
Long lines of mourners, many waiting more than four hours under the hot Roman sun, wound around St. Peter’s Square on the first day of viewing on April 23.
The rite began in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta and ended with the Holy Father’s body before the Altar of Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica.
April 23, the patron saint’s day of Pope Francis, is a holiday at the Vatican and the pope usually celebrated it with acts of charity toward people in need.
Various factors are at play when it comes to the decision of a burial place for a pope. Pope Francis has chosen the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.
At the first general congregation of cardinals in Rome on Tuesday, the estimated 60 cardinals in attendance chose the date of Pope Francis’ funeral.
Pope Francis greeted the faithful around the world for the last time from St. Peter’s Basilica on the most important day for Christians: Easter.
Rooted in ancient Christian and Roman customs, the Novendiales is a period of nine consecutive days dedicated to mourning the death of a pope.
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, summed up Pope Francis’ last call on Saturday night, April 19, moments before the Easter Vigil.
During his papacy, Pope Francis shared advice and bits of practical wisdom on how to get along with one another, including within the family.
Here are some of the key words and phrases that will be used throughout the interregnum, especially the conclave to elect the new pope.
His words often focused on the dignity of the poor, migrants, refugees, and the elderly as well as the importance of marriage, family life, and care for the environment.
In accordance with his personal wishes, Francis will not be buried in the Vatican grottoes but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell is a key figure in the papal succession because of his appointment in 2019 as the camerlengo of the apostolic chamber.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell presided over the rite in the chapel of Pope Francis’ Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta, just a little over 12 hours after the pontiff’s death.
Thousands of Catholics gathered together in prayer for the Holy Father, who passed away at age 88 due to complications from a medical crisis earlier in the spring.