- Pope Francis will be laid to rest on April 26. Here’s how to watch the funeral and what to expect.
Five days after his death was announced by Vatican officials, Pope Francis will be laid to rest on April 26. Americans who wish to watch the service, however, will need to wake up early.
Memorial services for the leader of the Catholic Church have been underway since April 23, when Francis’ body was laid to rest in St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing visitors to pay their final respects.
Here are the details about when Pope Francis’s funeral services will take place and how you can watch at home.
When is Pope Francis’ funeral?
Funeral services are scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 26.
Where will Pope Francis’ funeral take place?
The funeral will be held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
What time will Pope Francis’ funeral take place?
The ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. local time in Rome on April 26. For U.S. viewers, that’s at 4:00 a.m. ET start.
Will Donald Trump attend Pope Francis’ funeral?
Yes, President Trump has said he and First Lady Melania Trump will attend the funeral.
Who else will attend Pope Francis’ funeral?
Also expected in attendance are former President Joe Biden (a devout Catholic) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Prince William is confirmed to attend, as is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Other dignitaries include E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a longtime friend of Pope Francis.
Beyond VIPS, more than 200,000 people are expected to attend the funeral.
Where will Pope Francis be buried?
Whereas most pontiffs have been buried in the grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis announced in 2023 that he would be buried in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica instead. That, he said, would let him be near his favorite icon of the Madonna.
How will Pope Francis’ funeral be different than other popes?
Francis avoided much of the grandeur and pageantry of the papacy—and made several changes to papal funeral rites, effectively writing a new script for his own funeral and those of popes to come. He did away with the requirement that the pope be placed on an elevated platform in St. Peter’s Basilica during the public viewing. Instead, his body and future popes has laid in state in a simple coffin. Also, he cancelled the burial tradition requiring three interlocking coffins made of oak, cypress and lead.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, told Vatican News the changes highlight “even more that the Roman Pontiff’s funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world.”
When will Conclave take place?
The changes Pope Francis made to papal funeral plans did not touch on conclave, the process where the Vatican convenes to elect a new leader of the church. There’s no set amount of time between the death of a pope and the start of conclave, but it’s generally held between 15-20 days after a pope’s death. That puts the date somewhere between May 6 and May 11.
Conclaves must start after the “Novemdiales” period (Latin for “nine days”), a time dedicated to mourning the pope’s death, so May 5 or 6 seems a more likely start to conclave, but no formal announcement has been made.
At conclave, Cardinals under the age of 80 will select the next pope. As of Jan. 22, there were 252 cardinals worldwide—138 of which fit the age requirement. A two-thirds majority of voters is needed to win.
Can I watch Pope Francis’ funeral if I don’t have a cable subscription?
Yes. Major television networks will cover the Queen’s funeral live over the air. The best way to watch any sort of network programming for free (without a cable subscription) on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Can I stream Pope Francis’ funeral live online for free?
You can. Many online streaming services have live programming or will feature special coverage of the funeral—and some have free trials. Other options include the Websites and social media feeds of broadcast and cable news networks, which may carry live programming of the news event.
Paramount+
CBS’s streaming service will give you a one-week free trial, followed by a $8 or $13 monthly charge. (An annual plan begins at $60.)
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service carries a $8 or $14 monthly charge—and the service has recently done away with its free trial. (An annual plan starts at $80.)
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $27 per month for no ads on Hulu and Disney+).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $83 per month ($96 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $83 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $61 per month. The seven-day free trial is no longer offered.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
Soon to be part of the Disney family, this cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $85 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
