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Pope Francis updates: Funeral to take place on Saturday

DW
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 (17:38 IST)
Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10.00 a.m. (0800 GMT) at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said in a statement. The pope's casket will be moved into St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday for public viewing.
 
The pontiff passed away early on Easter Monday.
 
Pope Francis called for simple burial at St. Mary Major Basilica
 
Pope Francis visited more than 60 countries during his papacy and has drawn worldwide praise for his support for the weakest sections of society.
 
Francis eschewed much of the Vatican's traditional pomp during his time as pope.
 
He opted for simple rites, and in 2023, chose his resting place to be one of the four main churches of Christendom in Rome, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore or St. Mary Major.
 
In his final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried "in the earth, simple, without particular decoration" and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
 
St. Mary Major, around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from the Vatican, was dear to Francis because of his devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian tradition. He visited the chapel more than 150 times during his papacy, usually to pray for safe travels.
 
Most popes are buried in St. Peter's Basilica or its grottoes, the network of underground vaults and chapels located beneath the basilica's main floor.

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