After a week of global mourning for Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88, was laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The service marked a poignant moment in Catholic history, drawing dignitaries from around the world to the Vatican. Representatives from 123 countries, including 61 heads of state and 42 government officials, attended the solemn Mass, reflecting the global impact of Francis’ papacy.
The papacy of Pope Francis was notable for the progressive reforms he brought to the Roman Catholic Church. He appointed more than half of the current College of Cardinals and attempted to foster more positive attitudes toward members of the LGBT community and migrants worldwide.
A simpler service
The pope’s funeral was less elaborate than those of other popes according to his own wishes. Francis simplified papal funeral rites last year, permitting his burial outside the Vatican, and emphasizing his role as a bishop rather than as pope (the pope is also the Bishop of Rome).
Previous popes were buried in three coffins: one of cypress, one of lead and one of oak. Francis requested to be buried in a single wooden, zinc-lined coffin and to not be placed in an elevated bier as other popes were.
During the funeral, the coffin was taken from St Peter’s Basilica and placed on a dais in St Peter’s Square, where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re led the service. After the service, the coffin returned to St Peter’s Basilica before being carried across the River Tiber and to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for burial.
Most popes are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica or its grottoes, but Francis chose the St. Mary Major Basilica to reflect his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the People of Rome).
Pope Francis’ funeral Mass is the first of nine Masses held daily at St. Peter’s until May 4. This is an ancient tradition of the Catholic Church that observes nine consecutive days of mourning. A different group of mourners will participate each day, though the Eucharistic celebrations are open to everyone.
Who attended Pope Francis’ funeral?
Hundreds of people, including world leaders and royals, attended the pope’s funeral.
Notable attendees included King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, the King and Queen of Jordan and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway. Prince William of the United Kingdom attended in place of his father, King Charles III.
From the United States, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were present. which marked Trump’s first foreign trip in his second term. Former president Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, and former fifirst lady Jill Biden also attended the funeral.
The conclave begins May 7
The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church will begin voting on May 7 for a successor in an assembly known as a conclave. Only cardinals younger than 80 years old are allowed to vote in a papal election, meaning 135 of the 252 existing cardinals are eligible to participate.
The conclave can take days or even weeks to conclude. Two-thirds of the cardinals’ votes are required to elect the next pope. The conclave occurs behind closed doors and the vote tally is never made public.
Although in the 13th century, it reportedly took three years to choose a pope, modern conclaves have been much shorter. Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot on the second day of the conclave.
Read more: Where to Watch Conclave, the Vatican Thriller About Electing a New Pope
Who are the contenders?
Several cardinals are considered potential strong candidates for the papacy. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy is noted for his diplomatic efforts and alignment with Pope Francis’ vision. Cardinal Luis Tagle from the Philippines is also a prominent figure, recognized for his advocacy for social justice and poverty alleviation. And Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is being discussed as a possible first African pope in the modern era.
Look for the white smoke
After the cardinals vote and their ballots are counted, the ballots are burned, and chemicals are added to the flames to produce black smoke if there’s no majority. When a new pope has been selected, chemicals will be added to the flames to produce white smoke. Crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square to watch for the results.
If you’re fascinated by the process, you can watch a dramatized version of the events in the 2024 film Conclave.
In the movie, Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, who spearheads the election of the next pope while investigating rumors about potential candidates. The film is based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris and is fictional — though it does represent some of the events of how actual papal conclaves take place. In March, the film won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay.
You can stream Conclave on Amazon Prime Video, or rent it for $6 on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, YouTube or Google Play Movies.
For those interested in following the developments of the real conclave, live updates and analyses will be available through major news organizations and the Vatican’s official channels.
