Vatican issues guidelines for bishops and priests for funeral Mass

Vatican, 22nd April 2025 : On Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., the first day of the Novendiali, the Funeral Mass of the Roman Pontiff Francis will be celebrated in the churchyard of St. Peter's Basilica, according to the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nn. 82-109).

The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

The following may concelebrate:

- the Patriarchs and Cardinals, who will be present, by 9:00 a.m., in the Chapel of San Sebastiano in the Basilica, bringing with them the white damask miter;

- the Archbishops and Bishops, who will be at the Braccio di Costantino by 8:30 a.m., bringing with them the amice, alb, cincture and simple white miter;

- the Presbyters, who will be directly in the area reserved for them in St. Peter's Square by 8:30 a.m., where they will put on the amice, alb, cincture and red stole that they will have brought with them.

At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio will take place. The coffin of the Roman Pontiff will then be taken to St. Peter's Basilica and from there to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

In accordance with the Motu Proprio «Pontificalis Domus», the members of the Pontifical Choir who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating, must be equipped with the Notification which must be requested via the e-mail address: celebrations@celebra.va. All are required to wear their own choir dress and to be present in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica by 9:00 a.m., in order to occupy the place indicated to them by the papal masters of ceremonies.

Vatican City, April 22, 2025

By mandate of the College of Cardinals

✠ Diego Ravelli

Titular Archbishop of Recanati

Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations