The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26, at 10.00am. It will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

He will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, consecrated religious, and lay faithful from around the world to honour Pope Francis.

At the end of the Mass on Saturday, the late Pope’s body will be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will be buried.

The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, or nine days of official mourning and daily memorial Masses for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul.

Yesterday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, led the prayerful procession to take the Pope’s body from the chapel into St Peter’s Square and then into the basilica.

St Peter’s Basilica will remain open for those who wish to pay their respects to the late Pope until Friday evening.

To watch from home, Channel 7 is broadcasting the funeral across their channels:

• From 5.00pm, the Farewell to Pope Francis will be live on Seven and 7plus as Pope Francis’ body is taken into St Peter’s Basilica and the dignitaries arrive for the funeral.
• A special edition of 7NEWS live at 6.00pm will be broadcast on Seven and 7plus, featuring the start of the funeral, as well as all the day’s other news from Australia and abroad. Coverage of the funeral will continue on 7two and 7plus between 6.00pm until 7.00pm.
• From 7.00pm, the Farewell to Pope Francis returns to Seven and continues on 7plus, as the funeral finishes and Pope Francis’ coffin is taken to Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.