Pope Francis’ Coffin to be Sealed in Rite on Friday Evening

Vatican, 24 April 2025 – Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin of the late Pope Francis on Friday, ahead of the papal funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.  

Several Cardinals and Holy See officials will attend the solemn liturgical rite, which will be broadcast across Vatican News’ platforms. The event will formally mark the conclusion of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, where tens of thousands have come to pay their respects to the late Pontiff.  

In the 24 hours since St. Peter’s Basilica opened its doors to the faithful on Wednesday morning, over 50,000 people have passed by the Altar of the Confession, where Pope Francis’ mortal remains lie in state. The basilica remained open until 5:30 AM on Thursday, then closed briefly before reopening at 7:00 AM.  

The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations has requested the presence of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, Domenique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Baldassare Reina, and Konrad Krajewski for the Rite of Sealing.  

Those assisting in the rite will include Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, the Canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Ordinary Minor Penitentiaries of the Vatican, Pope Francis’ personal secretaries, and others admitted by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.  

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, 26 April, at 10:00 AM (GMT +2 / 1:30 PM IST) in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales —a nine-day period of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul.  

The Novemdiales Masses will take place daily at 5:00 PM (GMT +2 / 8:30 PM IST) in St. Peter’s Basilica, with the exception of Divine Mercy Sunday, 27 April, when Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM (GMT +2 / 2:00 PM IST) in St. Peter’s Square.

Courtesy: Vatican News