Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, will be buried on Saturday morning in Rome.
The Vatican has confirmed the participation of more than 150 delegations at his funeral, including 54 heads of state and 12 sitting monarchs, as well as thousands of believers.
Here's what exactly happens before and during a funeral:
– Saturday, April 26
8:30am (7:30am Irish time)
The archbishops and bishops will begin to gather in the Constantinian Wing, which adjoins St. Peter's Basilica. They will be dressed in a chasuble (the outer garment worn by clergy during services), a surplice, a sash, and a simple white mitre.
Priests and deacons will also gather at 8:30 a.m. in a specially designated area in St. Peter's Square. They will be dressed in a chasuble, surplice, sash, and red stole.
9 am
At 9:00 a.m., the patriarchs and cardinals will gather in the Chapel of St. Sebastian in the Basilica. They will be wearing white damask mitres.
They will then all march in a funeral procession to Francis's coffin, where the late Pope will be dressed in a red robe, damask and a golden papal mitre.
10:00 (9:00 Irish time)
The funeral ceremony will begin at 10am local time (9am Irish time) and the coffin will be laid in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica.
The service will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, deacon of the College of Cardinals.
The Irish delegation is led by President Michael D. Higgins.
It will be between groups from Indonesia and Iceland, which will also be led by the heads of state of those countries.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
