Pope Francis' funeral mass will be held on the 26th at 10 a.m. (local time) in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, which is 5 p.m. in Korean time. Up to 250,000 people are expected to gather. Leaders from various countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will also attend.
Ahead of the mass, Pope Francis' coffin, which is currently placed in St. Peter's Basilica, will be carried to the outdoor altar in the square. The funeral mass will be officiated by Director General Giovanni Battista Re, with cardinals, bishops, and priests from around the world co-presiding. The mass will proceed with a homily by Cardinal Re, the Eucharistic celebration, and a farewell ceremony involving sprinkling holy water on the coffin and incense.
Pope Francis' coffin will be transported to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, the resting place chosen by the pope during his lifetime. The procession will cover approximately 6 kilometers, passing through historic sites such as Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, departing from the Vatican. The coffin is expected to arrive at Santa Maria Maggiore between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. This will be the first time a pope's body is buried outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII passed away in 1903.
During the three days of public mourning allowed since the 23rd, the coffin of the pope was placed close to the floor. While the coffins of previous popes were elevated to waist height, Pope Francis chose to remain at a lower position. The pope also rejected a three-tiered coffin and opted for a simple wooden one. The inscription on the tombstone only bears the Latin name 'Franciscus.'