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NATION WORLDThe faithful gather in St. Peter’s Square. An estimated200,000 are expected for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. Markus Schreiber, Associated PressVATICAN CITYA humble pope chose to have a simpler burialYou’ll have to get up early to watch it live as world leaders honor Francis.Wire reportsPope Francis’ death initiates carefully choreographed proceedings that will coa* elude with the election of a new pontiff. Francis’ funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City at 10 a.m. local time Saturday — that means it starts at 4 a.m. EDT. Tens of thousands of mourners, including President Donald Trump, are expected to attend.Here’s what to know:What can you tell me about the timing?A pope’s funeral usually occurs four to six days after his death. Francis died Monday.The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI occurred five days after his death, while the funeral of Pope John Paul II happened six days afterward.One exception was the funeral of Pope Pius VI, who was pontiff from 1775 to 1799. He died in captivity in Valence, France, after being kidnapped by Napoleon Bonaparte, and he was buried in the local cemetery. Although funerals were held immediately after his death in places not under French control, a more formal funeral was not held until 1802, when his remains were returned to the Vatican.Where will Francis’ funeral be held?Francis’ funeral, as with those of previous popes, will be held in the parvis of St. Peter’s Basilica, or the open space in front of the basilica surrounded by its colonnades, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.What is different about his coffin?Francis’ body will be placed in an open coffin. He will be dressed in his ceremonial red liturgical vestments, including the miter headdress that symbolizes his position as the bishop of Rome, said Rebecca Rist, a papacy expert and professor of medieval studies at the University of Reading in Britain. Previous popes had three coffins prepared for them — one of cypress, one of lead and one of oak. This was meant to deter anyone from tampering with the body after burial, a tradition that continued into the modern era, deepening the mystique of the papacy, Rist said.Among other changes that Francis made a year before his death, the tradition of preparing three coffins was eliminated to simplify proceedings.What happens the night before?The night before the funeral, the camer-lengo presides over the closing and sealing of the coffin, in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white cloth is placed over the pope’s face.A bag containing coins minted during his papacy is placed in the coffin along with a one-page written account of his papacy — known in Italian as a ‘‘rogito, a word indicating an official deed. It is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies and then rolled up and slipped inside a cylindrical tube that is placed inside the coffin. Another copy is kept in the Vatican archives. The covers of both the zinc coffin and the woodenTHE SECOND OLDEST PONTIFF Pope Francis, at 88, was the second-oldest pontiff in modem history after Pope Leo XI11, who died in 1903 at the age of 93. Born in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17,1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013, at age 76. Francis's pontificate lasted for 12 years. Pontiffs have not always begun their papacies so late in life. Benedict was 78 years old when he started his papacy and the oldest pope to be elected since 1730. In 2013, he shocked the world with his resignation after less than eight years. Citing ill health, he said,“I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” a reference to Saint Peter, the first pope.John Paul I: -Died of a heart attack at 65 after only 33 days in office.Benedict:At 85, was the first to resign the papacy since 1406.Alexander VIII:Was elected pope at age 79.Urban VII:HFlad the shortest papacy at 13 days. Fie died of malaria at 69.Leo X:The youngest pope at age 37.one bear a cross and the papal coat of arms.Francis’ coat of arms, which he kept from when he was bishop, features a shield and the monogram of his Jesuit order, with the words ‘‘Miserando atque eligendo, Latin fijf ‘‘Having had mercy, he called him. It comes from an episode in the Gospel where Christ picks a seemingly unworthy person to follow him.Who conducts the funeral?The funeral is presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals or, if that is not possible, by the vice dean or another senior cardinal. The current dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The vice dean is Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81. Francis earlier this year extended both of their five-year terms rather than appoint new ones.Where will he be buried?Francis’ reform allows for burial outside the Vatican, with the camerlengo presiding. Various seals are impressed on the coffin, and it is placed inside the tomb.Francis has said he wants to be buried not in St. Peter’s Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St. Mary Major Basilica across town. His choice reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the people of Rome). After every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.‘‘It’s my great devotion, Francis told Mexico’s N+ in revealing his future burial plans. ‘‘The place is already prepared.The pope will be buried in a simple underground tomb, prepared ‘‘without particular ornamentation and marked only as ‘‘Franciscus, according to his wishes. Francis stated in his will that expenses for ‘‘the preparation of his burial at St. Mary Major will be covered by an anonymous benefactor arranged by Francis, rather than the church. The Vatican has declined to name the benefactor.Who will attend the funeral?Despite the changes, the funeral is still expected to be a solemn, well-attended ceremony, rich with the pomp and grandeur associated with the papacy, Rist said. An estimated200,000 are expected to show up, including Catholic mourners, cardinals and world leaders. About 50,000 people attended Benedict’s funeral in 2023, while about 300,000 came to bid farewell to John Paul II in 2005.Among the attendees are expected be 135 cardinal electors — cardinals under the age of 80 who will pick a new pope.Among the leaders, seating arrang-ments could prove to be tricky. Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend, as will Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, and one of Ukraine’s biggest backers — Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland. Prince William will attend on behalf of his father, King Charles, and several members of other European royal families will also be there.One leader who turned down the invitation — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.The Washington Post and Associated Press contributed.
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