Vatican Unveils Pope Francis’ Funeral Plan: Date, Venue & VIP Guests
So, heads up: the Vatican just dropped all the deets on Pope Francis’ funeral, and it’s officially on every calendar. In a statement released by Vatican News on June 12, 2025, the Holy See confirmed that His Holiness’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, July 26, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the ceremony is slated to begin promptly at 10 a.m. local time, with the doors opening for public viewing two days prior.
Let’s unpack this without sounding too invested: the body of Pope Francis will lie in state from Thursday, July 24, through Friday, July 25, in the basilica’s nave, giving pilgrims from around the globe a chance to pay respects. Security will be tighter than your Wi‑Fi password, with road closures on Via della Conciliazione and special access passes required for diplomats—per a bulletin shared by Vatican City security officials and corroborated by Reuters.
High‑profile attendees are a given. The Vatican has extended formal invitations to heads of state, prime ministers, and global faith leaders, according to an official communique posted by Vatican News. President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and UN Secretary‑General António Guterres are among those expected, sources from the Associated Press confirm. The G7 bloc has already RSVP’d, hinting at an unprecedented world‑leader turnout.
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, with homilies reflecting Francis’ decades‑long emphasis on social justice, climate action, and interfaith dialogue—a legacy underscored in speeches by both the European Commission and the World Council of Churches. Eulogies will likely reference his groundbreaking Synodal Path reforms and his famous “Who am I to judge?” moment, giving the proceedings an intimate, retrospective feel despite the grand setting.
Once the Mass concludes, Francis will be laid to rest in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, joining the ranks of popes past. Streaming options will be available on the Vatican’s official YouTube channel, ensuring anyone with an internet connection can tune in. Dotdash Meredith’s Vatican correspondent notes the broadcast may integrate multilingual translations for global audiences.
All told, this is shaping up to be one of the largest papal funerals in modern history—part state affair, part spiritual pilgrimage. Think of it as the ultimate crossover event where diplomacy meets devotion. Anyway, that’s the scoop. Judge it, share it, or just scroll on; either way, you’ve got the details.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Vatican News, Reuters, Associated Press, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
