Witness Live: Final Farewell to Pope Francis at the Vatican

Tune in to CBS News for a live broadcast as the Catholic community gathers to pay their last respects to Pope Francis. The funeral commences on a significant Saturday morning in the heart of Vatican City, followed by the interment of the beloved pontiff in Rome.

Funeral Commencement Details

The solemn service in honor of Pope Francis will start at 10 a.m. local Roman time, which corresponds to 4 a.m. in Eastern Time, and 1 a.m. in Pacific Time. The event will take place at the revered St. Peter's Basilica, and the rite will be overseen by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals.

This event will adhere to the Vatican's prescribed procedures for papal funerals, detailed in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis. Noteworthy is the recent update authorized by Pope Francis, which introduces changes to traditional elements such as the style of the coffin.

Attendees at the Memorial Service

The funeral of Pope Francis is expected to draw crowds from various corners, including the general public, religious dignitaries, and international heads of state. A delegation led by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, featuring an array of Catholic U.S. senators, will attend this significant event.

Final Resting Place of Pope Francis

Culminating the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will deliver the concluding prayer, followed by a procession that carries the pope’s remains to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial—a location intimately associated with Pope Francis's spiritual journey.

Pope Francis, unlike many predecessors who rest within the Vatican grottoes, has expressed a personal desire to be interred in a site of particular significance, outside the Vatican in Rome. This sanctuary was frequently visited by him for prayer and reflection during his tenure as the spiritual leader.

As he stated in his will, ‘Franciscus’ will be the solitary inscription marking his resting place—a testament to his emphasis on simplicity.

Initiating the Selection of the New Pope

Subsequent to the funeral, a nine-day mourning period begins, known as the Novemdiales. Following this period, an estimated group of 135 cardinals will convene in Rome to plan the next steps in choosing a new pope.

The conclave, a tradition spanning centuries, typically initiates approximately two weeks after the death of a pope. The participating cardinals under the age of 80 engage in a secluded voting process within the Sistine Chapel until a consensus is achieved.