Following the passing of Pope Francis, mourners will be allowed to pay their respects, but things will be different from the funeral of previous Popes.
As widely reported, Pope Francis passed away aged 88, just hours after making his final public appearance.
The beloved pontiff - known worldwide as the “People’s Pope” - passed away at 7:35AM on Monday, April 21.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell shared in a solemn statement.
“At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
He added: “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936, Francis was the first Pope from South America and served as a bishop in Buenos Aires before becoming the 266th Pope in 2013, after his predecessor Benedict XVI became the first pontiff in over 600 years to resign.
As the world mourns, funeral preparations are already underway, but due to Pope Francis' requests, things will be different, as reported by BBC News.
While past popes were buried in three nested coffins - cypress, lead, and oak - Francis chose simplicity. He will be laid to rest in a modest wooden coffin lined with zinc.
He also scrapped the public viewing platform known as the catafalque. Instead, mourners will pay respects while his body lies in an open coffin with the lid removed.
And in another historic move, Francis will be the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
His final resting place will be the Basilica of St Mary Major, one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.
Francis’ final public appearance came on Easter Sunday. Despite ongoing health concerns, he was wheeled out onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where he raised his hand and blessed a sea of worshippers.
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” he told the cheering crowd.
An aide then read the rest of his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing, which included a heartfelt plea: “May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.”
He continued: “In this Jubilee year, may Easter also be a fitting occasion for the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners!”
The Pope also made time that day for a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, sharing what the Vatican described as “good wishes” in a short exchange.
Then came one final ride through the crowd.
The pontiff rode through St Peter’s Square in his popemobile, stopping multiple times to bless babies and hand out gifts, creating what would become his last and most poignant memory for thousands of devoted followers chanting “Viva il Papa!”, translated to "long live the Pope".
Francis had been in declining health for years, battling complications from bronchitis, pneumonia, sciatica, and the flu.
On February 14, he was admitted to the hospital with bronchitis and later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
Tests revealed low blood platelet levels, associated with anemia, and on February 22, the Vatican described his condition as “critical” after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” required high-flow oxygen. The next day, the Pope developed “initial, mild” kidney failure.
He remained hospitalized for 38 days. Doctors described his condition as “complex” and, at times, life-threatening. He suffered four breathing crises during his stay, with the most severe on February 28 when he inhaled vomit.
“We were all aware that the situation had further worsened and there was a risk that he would not make it,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri told Corriere della Sera. “We had to choose whether to stop and let him go, or push forward and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. In the end, we took this path.”
On March 23, Francis was released from the hospital and made a brief appearance on the balcony at Gemelli hospital, giving a thumbs up before returning to the Vatican to begin a prescribed two-month recovery.
Sadly, Pope Francis was due to start his two-month recovery after his Easter outing, but now the Catholic Church has entered a period of mourning.