People in Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, April 26, 2025/SCREENSHOT, BBC
The Vatican says 200,000 people are attending the Pope’s funeral in St Peter’s Square and the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Italian police have updated their earlier figure, putting the number at around 150,000 – that includes around 50,000 gathered in St Peter’s Square itself.
Who is leading today’s funeral service?
Pope Francis’ funeral service this morning is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.
The 91-year-old Italian was ordained for the Diocese of Brescia in 1957. In 2001, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him as a cardinal.
He was elected as dean of the College of Cardinals in 2020, and Pope Francis extended his term in February this year.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
Timeline: Pope Francis’ funeral mass and burial
Let’s take a look at how things have been unfolding so far this morning and what’s still to come:
07:30 BST: Archbishops and bishops gathered in the Constantine Wing, a corridor adjacent to St Peter’s Basilica – Catholic priests began congregating in St Peter’s Square08:00 BST: Patriarchs from the Orthodox church and cardinals congregated in Saint Sebastian Chapel, inside the basilica09:00 BST: The funeral starts when the coffin is laid in the square in front of St Peter’s Basilica. The service will be led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista ReApproximately 10:30-10:45 BST: The funeral ends and a slow procession carrying the Pope’s coffin will make its way to his final resting place – the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore