Global community gears up for final farewell to recently deceased pope – DW – 26 April 2025

On Friday evening, Pope Francis’ casket was closed and his coffin was sealed as the three-day lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica ended at 07:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT/UTC).

Photos released by the Vatican showed Pope Francis with a white cloth placed over his face as he was being prepared for the funeral. 

His coffin contained a bag with coins minted during his papacy, alongside a one-page written account of his papacy.

The account highlighted his “defense of innocents,” his encyclicals and also his illnesses.

“Francis left everyone a wonderful testimony of humanity, of a holy life and of universal fatherhood,” it read.

The Vatican says some 250,000 visited St. Peter’s Basilica to bid the late pontiff farewell since Wednesday.

The turnout was higher than expected, prompting the Vatican to extend the Basilica’s opening hours overnight.

For starters, the service is due to last 90 minutes, a short interval compared to earlier funerals, including Pope John Paul II, whose 2005 funeral lasted three hours.

A motorcade will drive Francis’ body through the city in a final farewell ahead of his burial.

While the burial of a pope normally follows a centuries-old practice that involves three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak, Francis has been placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin.

But perhaps the most significant break with tradition is the location the late pontiff chose for his burial.

Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies some 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from St. Peter’s Basilica, will be Pope Francis’ final resting place. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century.

His tomb will only have his first name in Latin, “Franciscus,” inscribed.

After three days of lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope will be buried today following a massive funeral.

Details of the funeral are in line with Francis’ reign, which saw him shun much of the pomp associated with the papacy.

We will provide you with all the details of the funeral day, including news surrounding those in attendance.