What to Know About the Papal Funeral

Pope Francis’s funeral will be on April 26 at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET, at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by his burial in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

A portrait of the late Pope Francis is pictured at the Buenos Aires Cathedral on April 21, 2025. Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images

At around 8 p.m. local time on April 25, Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed, after three days during which more than 100,000 mourners stood in line to pay their respects in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The deceased Catholic pontiff’s coffin was closed in a special rite led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Catholic Church’s Camerlengo—or Chamberlain—as part of preparations for the late pontiff’s funeral on April 26.

Pope Francis’s Funeral and Burial Schedule

Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET, on the parvis, the platformed area and steps just outside St. Peter’s Basilica.