Updated Apr 22, 2025 - World

Pope to lie in state until funeral on Saturday morning, Vatican says

Rebecca Falconer

Vatican Secretary of State cardinal Pietro Parolin prays during the Rite of Certification of Death of Pope Francis in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta on April 21, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. — Vatican Secretary of State cardinal Pietro Parolin prays during the Rite of Certification of Death of Pope Francis in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, Vatican, on Tuesday. Photo: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Pope Francis' funeral will be held in St Peter's Square from 10am local time (4am ET) Saturday, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

The big picture: The Vatican also released the first images of the late leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in an open casket with a rosary placed in his hand in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, his papal home for the past 12 years until his death on Easter Monday at age 88.

Zoom in: Cardinals met for the first time in Vatican City on Tuesday since the pope's death a day earlier to finalize arrangements for the funeral, which will take place in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the square.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the funeral liturgy.
The cardinals decided during their meeting that Francis' body will be taken to the basilica at 9am Wednesday local time to lie in state until his funeral, per Vatican statements.
This will "allow all the faithful to pay their respects," the Vatican said.

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Pope to lie in state until funeral on Saturday morning, Vatican says

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