Pope Francis' Funeral: A Blend of Tradition and Personal Wishes

On Saturday, the funeral service and procession for the late Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Monday, will take place, combining Catholic Church tradition with the humble personal wishes of the late pontiff. The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern, 1 a.m. Pacific) at the Vatican, and CBS News will provide live coverage of the event.

Attendees and Dignitaries

The funeral is expected to draw a significant number of attendees, including church leaders, dignitaries, heads of state, and a large crowd of the faithful in St. Peter's Square. Notable figures such as President Trump and former President Joe Biden are anticipated to be present at the solemn occasion. The funeral Mass will be officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Final Resting Place

After the funeral service, a procession will carry Pope Francis' coffin to his final resting place, a fifth-century church located approximately 3 miles away, which held special significance for him. In his last will and testament, he expressed his desire to be buried not at the Vatican but at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) in Rome, a site he visited to pray before and after each of his journeys abroad. He specified that his tomb should be simple, without particular decoration, and bear only the inscription 'Franciscus,' omitting any mention of his papacy in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.