Catholics around the world are invited to join in prayerful solidarity as Vatican News prepares comprehensive live coverage of the funeral Mass of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26. The Solemn Requiem Mass, to be celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, will begin at 10:00 AM Rome time (1:00 am PST), and will be followed by a historic procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be laid to rest.
According to Vatican News, this funeral will be unlike any before: it will mark “the first time the transfer of a Pope’s mortal remains from the Vatican to another location for burial will be broadcast live globally.”
The Dicastery for Communication has made special arrangements to ensure the widest possible audience can follow this sacred event. Vatican News reports that live radio and television commentary will be provided in 15 languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, German, Polish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Arabic. Additionally, the coverage will include sign language interpretations in American Sign Language (ASL), Italian, Spanish, and French.
Television coverage, managed by Vatican Television Center–Vatican Media, will feature both aerial and ground footage of St. Peter’s Square and the entire route to Saint Mary Major Basilica. In addition, multimedia coverage, including “print, radio, television, and social media, including commentary and in-depth analysis,” will be offered in 56 languages, according to Vatican News.
Faithful who wish to follow the funeral proceedings have several options available:
- Visit the Vatican News website and select the “Vatican Media Live-YouTube” tile for video or the web radio speaker icon for audio streaming.
- Watch through Vatican News YouTube channels, either on the English channel or the original sound-only broadcast.
- Tune in via Vatican Radio web radio in 11 languages through the Radio Vatican App.
- Listen on shortwave radio broadcasts for English, French, and Portuguese-speaking audiences in Africa.
- Watch live coverage on Facebook in Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German.
- View Instagram live broadcasts in Italian, Portuguese, and German.
The Vatican has noted that the day will recall powerful memories of the funeral of Pope Saint John Paul II nearly twenty years ago. Yet, this moment stands unique, as it also serves as a profound global witness to the enduring unity of the Church Pope Francis so tirelessly promoted — a Church that welcomes “everyone, everyone, everyone.”
As Catholics gather, virtually and physically, to mourn the passing of Pope Francis and to honor his life of humble service, this solemn broadcast will offer a rare opportunity to participate spiritually in a historic and deeply meaningful liturgy for the Universal Church.
