{"id":4344,"date":"2025-04-24T23:36:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T05:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/?p=4344"},"modified":"2025-04-24T23:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T05:36:53","slug":"pope-francis-funeral-scheduled-for-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/2025\/04\/24\/pope-francis-funeral-scheduled-for-saturday\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis’ Funeral Scheduled for Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘ <\/p>\n

VATICAN CITY \u2014 Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history\u2019s first Latin American pontiff.<\/p>\n

The cardinals met Tuesday in the Vatican\u2019s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis\u2019 successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10.<\/p>\n

The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter\u2019s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. U.S. President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.<\/p>\n

The Argentine pope died Monday at age 88 after a stroke put him in a coma and his heart failed. He had been recovering in his apartment after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia. He made his last public appearance Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and greeting followers from his popemobile, looping around St. Peter\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n

Breaking News<\/p>\n

Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.<\/p>\n

Related:What happens after a pope dies? <\/p>\n

His Easter appearance from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope from the Americas on March 13, 2013, was a fitting bookend to a 12-year papacy that sought to shake up the church and return it to its mission of caring for the poorest.<\/p>\n

Vatican officials remember Francis<\/h2>\n

\u201cHe truly gave everything he had, up to the end,\u201d said Sister Nathalie Becquart, one of the highest-ranking women at the Vatican.<\/p>\n

While the ordinary faithful will have an opportunity to pay their respects beginning Wednesday, Vatican officials were allowed to say their goodbyes starting Monday evening. Speaking to reporters after she paid her respects, Becquart marveled at Francis\u2019 final Easter salute to his flock. \u201cHe really walked with his people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said it was specifically Francis\u2019 effort to promote the role of women in the church that will be one of his greatest legacies. Ravasi noted that Francis chose to be buried near his favorite icon of the Madonna, in a basilica across town, and not in the grottoes underneath St. Peter\u2019s, as is typical for popes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to be buried under the shadow of a woman, in this case Maria,\u201d said Ravasi, the Vatican\u2019s former culture minister as he arrived for Tuesday\u2019s first meeting of cardinals. \u201cThat is significant, his desire for the church to do more for women.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first images of Francis\u2019 body were released Tuesday, showing him in red vestments and his bishop\u2019s miter in a wooden casket, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived and died.<\/p>\n

In his final will, Francis said he wanted to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, which is home to the Salus Populi Romani icon of Mary. Before and after every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.<\/p>\n

Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day stay, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned April 12 to pray before it one last time.<\/p>\n

The world reacts<\/h2>\n

Bells tolled in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world and flags flew at half-staff in Italy, India, Taiwan and the U.S. after Francis\u2019 death was announced by the camerlengo, who takes charge of the Vatican after a pope\u2019s death. Soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were suspended in honor of the pope who was a lifelong fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club.<\/p>\n

World leaders praised Francis for his moral leadership and compassion, while ordinary faithful remembered his simplicity and humanity.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike every Argentine, I think he was a rebel,\u201d said 23-year-old Catalina Favaro, who had come to pay her respects in the Buenos Aires church where Francis discovered his priestly vocation. \u201cHe may have been contradictory, but that was nice, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related:Pope Francis\u2019 papacy in his own words<\/p>\n

In East Timor, where Francis\u2019 final outdoor Mass drew nearly half of the population last September, President Jose Ramos-Horta praised Francis\u2019 courage. \u201cPope Francis was a brave man who was not afraid to speak out against the rulers of the world who seek war, but do not want to seek peace,\u201d Ramos-Horta said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home \u2014 this Earth \u2014 is a gift we must protect for future generations,\u201d said Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is Muslim. Nigeria is Africa\u2019s most populous country and has around 30 million Catholics, representing about 14% of the population.<\/p>\n

Viewing the pope\u2019s coffin<\/h2>\n

The pope\u2019s formal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and in the Santa Marta hotel were sealed Monday evening, following a centuries-old ritual. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as camerlengo had the task of announcing the death and confirming it once the cause was determined, presided over the rituals.<\/p>\n

Francis chose not to live in the palace, but in a two-room suite in Santa Marta on the other side of Vatican City. He died there and his body was transferred to the hotel chapel in the lobby, where the private viewing was underway Tuesday for Vatican officials and members of the pontifical household.<\/p>\n

In changes made by Francis last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as it had been for previous popes. Rather, Francis was placed in a simplified wooden coffin with a zinc coffin inside.<\/p>\n

Once in St. Peter\u2019s, his casket will not be put on an elevated bier \u2014 as was the case with past popes \u2014 but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a pope who didn\u2019t change his path when it came to getting (his hands) dirty,\u201d Francis\u2019 vicar for Rome, Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, said in a Mass in his honor. \u201cFor him, poor people and migrants were the sacrament of Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Choosing the next pope<\/h2>\n

After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the \u201cnovendiali.\u201d During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome and meet privately before the conclave.<\/p>\n

To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15 to 20 days after the \u201csede vacante\u201d \u2014 the \u201cvacant See\u201d \u2014 is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.<\/p>\n

Related:Who might succeed Pope Francis? Some possible candidates<\/p>\n

Once the conclave begins, cardinals vote in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel. After voting sessions, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke indicates that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n

The one who has secured two-thirds of the votes wins. If he accepts, his election is announced by a cardinal from the loggia of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica who tells the world: \u201cHabemus Papam\u201d \u2014 Latin for \u201cWe have a pope.\u201d<\/p>\n

By NICOLE WINFIELD and COLLEEN BARRY with The Associated Press<\/p>\n

Associated Press reporters Paolo Santalucia and Silvia Stellacci contributed.<\/p>\n

Letters to the Editor \u2014 Pope Francis, Roth for Dallas District 11, Paxton and guns<\/span><\/p>\n

Readers loved the editorial on Pope Francis; support Bill Roth for Dallas City Council; disagree with Ken Paxton\u2019s latest attack on venues banning guns; and discuss immigration.<\/p>\n

\"AWhat to know about the death of Pope Francis and upcoming funeral and conclave<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, setting off mourning in the Catholic world and days of ritual at the Vatican.<\/p>\n

\"PeopleVatican keeps St. Peter\u2019s open all night for public viewing of Pope Francis<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 50,000 people paid their last respects in the first 12 hours of the public viewing.<\/p>\n

\"FILEPope Francis had a troubled course on dealing with clergy sexual abuse<\/span><\/p>\n

Few could have predicted that a comment he made in 2018, dismissing victims of Chile\u2019s most notorious pedophile, would become the biggest crisis of his papacy.<\/p>\n

\"TheCatholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday is the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the pontiff\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n

and make it easy for teens to read and understand.Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from <\/p>\n

VATICAN CITY \u2014 Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history\u2019s first Latin American pontiff.<\/p>\n

The cardinals met Tuesday in the Vatican\u2019s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis\u2019 successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10.<\/p>\n

The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter\u2019s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. U.S. President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.<\/p>\n

The Argentine pope died Monday at age 88 after a stroke put him in a coma and his heart failed. He had been recovering in his apartment after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia. He made his last public appearance Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and greeting followers from his popemobile, looping around St. Peter\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n

Breaking News<\/p>\n

Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.<\/p>\n

Related:What happens after a pope dies? <\/p>\n

His Easter appearance from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope from the Americas on March 13, 2013, was a fitting bookend to a 12-year papacy that sought to shake up the church and return it to its mission of caring for the poorest.<\/p>\n

Vatican officials remember Francis<\/h2>\n

\u201cHe truly gave everything he had, up to the end,\u201d said Sister Nathalie Becquart, one of the highest-ranking women at the Vatican.<\/p>\n

While the ordinary faithful will have an opportunity to pay their respects beginning Wednesday, Vatican officials were allowed to say their goodbyes starting Monday evening. Speaking to reporters after she paid her respects, Becquart marveled at Francis\u2019 final Easter salute to his flock. \u201cHe really walked with his people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said it was specifically Francis\u2019 effort to promote the role of women in the church that will be one of his greatest legacies. Ravasi noted that Francis chose to be buried near his favorite icon of the Madonna, in a basilica across town, and not in the grottoes underneath St. Peter\u2019s, as is typical for popes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to be buried under the shadow of a woman, in this case Maria,\u201d said Ravasi, the Vatican\u2019s former culture minister as he arrived for Tuesday\u2019s first meeting of cardinals. \u201cThat is significant, his desire for the church to do more for women.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first images of Francis\u2019 body were released Tuesday, showing him in red vestments and his bishop\u2019s miter in a wooden casket, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived and died.<\/p>\n

In his final will, Francis said he wanted to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, which is home to the Salus Populi Romani icon of Mary. Before and after every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.<\/p>\n

Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day stay, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned April 12 to pray before it one last time.<\/p>\n

The world reacts<\/h2>\n

Bells tolled in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world and flags flew at half-staff in Italy, India, Taiwan and the U.S. after Francis\u2019 death was announced by the camerlengo, who takes charge of the Vatican after a pope\u2019s death. Soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were suspended in honor of the pope who was a lifelong fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club.<\/p>\n

World leaders praised Francis for his moral leadership and compassion, while ordinary faithful remembered his simplicity and humanity.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike every Argentine, I think he was a rebel,\u201d said 23-year-old Catalina Favaro, who had come to pay her respects in the Buenos Aires church where Francis discovered his priestly vocation. \u201cHe may have been contradictory, but that was nice, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related:Pope Francis\u2019 papacy in his own words<\/p>\n

In East Timor, where Francis\u2019 final outdoor Mass drew nearly half of the population last September, President Jose Ramos-Horta praised Francis\u2019 courage. \u201cPope Francis was a brave man who was not afraid to speak out against the rulers of the world who seek war, but do not want to seek peace,\u201d Ramos-Horta said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home \u2014 this Earth \u2014 is a gift we must protect for future generations,\u201d said Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is Muslim. Nigeria is Africa\u2019s most populous country and has around 30 million Catholics, representing about 14% of the population.<\/p>\n

Viewing the pope\u2019s coffin<\/h2>\n

The pope\u2019s formal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and in the Santa Marta hotel were sealed Monday evening, following a centuries-old ritual. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as camerlengo had the task of announcing the death and confirming it once the cause was determined, presided over the rituals.<\/p>\n

Francis chose not to live in the palace, but in a two-room suite in Santa Marta on the other side of Vatican City. He died there and his body was transferred to the hotel chapel in the lobby, where the private viewing was underway Tuesday for Vatican officials and members of the pontifical household.<\/p>\n

In changes made by Francis last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as it had been for previous popes. Rather, Francis was placed in a simplified wooden coffin with a zinc coffin inside.<\/p>\n

Once in St. Peter\u2019s, his casket will not be put on an elevated bier \u2014 as was the case with past popes \u2014 but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a pope who didn\u2019t change his path when it came to getting (his hands) dirty,\u201d Francis\u2019 vicar for Rome, Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, said in a Mass in his honor. \u201cFor him, poor people and migrants were the sacrament of Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Choosing the next pope<\/h2>\n

After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the \u201cnovendiali.\u201d During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome and meet privately before the conclave.<\/p>\n

To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15 to 20 days after the \u201csede vacante\u201d \u2014 the \u201cvacant See\u201d \u2014 is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.<\/p>\n

Related:Who might succeed Pope Francis? Some possible candidates<\/p>\n

Once the conclave begins, cardinals vote in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel. After voting sessions, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke indicates that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n

The one who has secured two-thirds of the votes wins. If he accepts, his election is announced by a cardinal from the loggia of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica who tells the world: \u201cHabemus Papam\u201d \u2014 Latin for \u201cWe have a pope.\u201d<\/p>\n

By NICOLE WINFIELD and COLLEEN BARRY with The Associated Press<\/p>\n

Associated Press reporters Paolo Santalucia and Silvia Stellacci contributed.<\/p>\n

\"PopeLetters to the Editor \u2014 Pope Francis, Roth for Dallas District 11, Paxton and guns<\/span><\/p>\n

Readers loved the editorial on Pope Francis; support Bill Roth for Dallas City Council; disagree with Ken Paxton\u2019s latest attack on venues banning guns; and discuss immigration.<\/p>\n

\"AWhat to know about the death of Pope Francis and upcoming funeral and conclave<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, setting off mourning in the Catholic world and days of ritual at the Vatican.<\/p>\n

\"PeopleVatican keeps St. Peter\u2019s open all night for public viewing of Pope Francis<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 50,000 people paid their last respects in the first 12 hours of the public viewing.<\/p>\n

\"FILEPope Francis had a troubled course on dealing with clergy sexual abuse<\/span><\/p>\n

Few could have predicted that a comment he made in 2018, dismissing victims of Chile\u2019s most notorious pedophile, would become the biggest crisis of his papacy.<\/p>\n

\"TheCatholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday is the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the pontiff\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n

and integrate them seamlessly into the new content without adding new tags. Include conclusion section and FAQs section with questions and answers at the end. do not include the title. it must return only article i dont want any extra information or introductory text with article e.g: ” Here is rewritten article:” or “Here is the rewritten content:”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘ VATICAN CITY \u2014 Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history\u2019s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met Tuesday in the Vatican\u2019s synod hall to chart the next steps before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":4345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4344","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/B6JLKQK6ITNRDXS5YI7EJSMTOE.jpg?auth=92c876441ba13556e0f5bb37c0f043658d192f6463afbe03ac19e22b5ee4390d&height=630&width=1200&focal=3652,3652&quality=80","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4344"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4344"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4346,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4344\/revisions\/4346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}