The Vatican has officially set this Saturday as the day to bid farewell to Pope Francis, with a funeral scheduled for 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. Francis, history's first pontiff from Latin America, who passed away Monday at age 88, will lie in state starting Wednesday for the public to pay their last respects, as reported by Click2Houston.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, are expected to attend. The late pope's public persona was that of a man deeply rooted in the simple and direct engagement with his followers. He made a poignant final appearance on Easter Sunday that now stands as a closing circle to his papacy, which began on the same plaza in 2013.
But it is not just the public veneration that sparked conversations. According to KHOU, Francis' wishes to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, rather than the traditional papal tombs under St. Peter's Basilica, underscore his longer stance on promoting women's roles in the church. "He wanted to be buried under the shadow of a woman, in this case Maria," said Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.
The transformation Francis brought to the papacy, whether in his living quarters or in the protocol for his funeral, did not go unnoticed. Vatican officials and clergy had the opportunity to express their farewells before the public viewing. "He truly gave everything he had, up to the end," Sister Nathalie Becquart said, according to KHOU. The funeral rites themselves reflect Francis' modest approach, with a decision last year leading to him resting in a simplified wooden coffin without the ceremonial elevation, previous popes had received.
Following the funeral, a conclave to choose Francis' successor will convene, with prospective dates ranging between May 5 and 10 as per current norms. The next pope will need a two-thirds majority vote from eligible cardinals. The conclave's outcomes will be symbolized by the traditional smoke signals – black for an unresolved vote and white when a new pope has accepted the role. Once a decision is reached, the famous declaration "Habemus Papam" will announce to the world the election of the new pope, as reported by KHOU.
