Nine Days of Mourning Begin as Pope Francis Lies in State at Vatican

A somber chapter in the history of the Catholic Church unfolds this week, as the body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 AM, where he will lie in state until his funeral on Saturday at 10:00 AM.

The Holy See Press Office announced that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, joined in concelebration by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from around the world, who will gather to bid farewell to the beloved Holy Father.

The liturgy will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, solemn rites that signal the beginning of the Novemdiales—nine days of mourning and prayers for the eternal repose of Pope Francis’ soul.

After the funeral, his body will be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment, a final journey for a shepherd who walked closely with the people.

Earlier that morning, his coffin will be carried from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in a quiet procession led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. The rite of translation will begin with a moment of prayer, marking the beginning of a deeply emotional farewell.

The procession will move through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, exiting through the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square before entering the Basilica through its central door.

At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will lead the Liturgy of the Word. It is there, in the heart of the Vatican, that the faithful will begin to pay their final respects to the late Pontiff—a man remembered for his humility, compassion, and unwavering devotion to the Church and its people.