Pope Francis’ funeral date confirmed after cardinals meet for first time since his death
Pope Francis' funeral date has now been confirmed after cardinals met for the first time since his death on Monday morning (21 April).
Those currently in Rome have been invited to meet at 8am BST (9am local time) to commence planning, according to the BBC.
Details of the late Bishop of Rome's funeral have been revealed with mass to take place at 10am local time this Saturday (26 April), celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.
His death, following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, prompted an outpouring of tributes across the globe.
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King Charles III, who met Pope Francis earlier this month, said he was someone who had 'profoundly touched the lives of so many', while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had been 'a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten'.
Following the confirmation of his death, the nine days of mourning are now set to commence ahead of the church, enacting a series of rituals before a successor is eventually chosen.
After the Pope's camerlengo (chamberlain), Cardinal Kevin Farrell, officially confirms the death, he then seals the pope's private apartment and prepares the funeral.
Then, the Pope’s body, wearing a white cassock, is taken to his private chapel, where he is robed in red vestments and then placed in a zinc-lined wooden coffin with his symbols of office - the mitre and pallium - beside him.
The camerlengo, along with three assistants, then decide when the Pope's coffin will be taken into St Peter's Basilica for public viewing.
They also make sure the Pope's 'Fisherman's Ring' and his lead seal are broken so they cannot be used by anyone else.
No autopsy is performed, according to Reuters.
The Pope’s death will automatically trigger a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale and during this time, daily prayers and requiem masses will be held in the Vatican as well as in various Catholic churches.
The date of the funeral and burial is then to be decided by the cardinals.
The funeral would normally be held four to six days after the Pope's death in St Peter's Square.
Unlike his many predecessors, Pope Francis had said that he would not be laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, but in Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica.
He also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket - something he confirmed in his final testament.
His face is covered by a white silk veil and he is buried with a bag containing coins minted during his reign, and a canister with a 'rogito', or deed, summarising his life and papacy.
Until a successor is chosen, the Vatican will be in a transitional period and this is known as sede vacante, meaning vacant seat.
It is not yet clear who will now be announced as the next Bishop of Rome, with a voting process likely to last between 15 to 20 days in what is known as a papal conclave.
The decision will be made by the College of Cardinals, who will vote four times per day until a candidate receives a major two-thirds of the vote.
Topics: World News, News, Pope Francis
Rhiannon Ingle