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Pope Francis to lie in state, mourners welcome: What to expect from the pontiff’s funeral

For his final journey, Pope Francis, dressed in red vestments and a traditional white cassock, will be carried to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore outside the Vatican on Saturday, where he will be laid to rest.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Regina Maria Sivori and Mario Jose Francisco in Argentina, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to the Vatican.
In the early morning of Easter Monday, Pope Francis suffered a stroke, followed by a coma. The former head of the Catholic Church then went into irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse and died at 88 years old, according to the Vatican.
POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013
Pope Francis served the Catholic Church as the 266th pontiff from 2013-2025. (Fillipo Monteforte/AFP via Getty)
His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when he provided blessings to crowds of faithful at St. Peter’s Square.
On Feb. 14, 2025, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he received a medical diagnosis of double pneumonia and remained hospitalized for 38 days.
What to expect the week of Pope Francis’ funeral?
On Tuesday morning, around 60 Catholic cardinals held their first meeting since Pope Francis’s death, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time in Rome.
The meeting began with a prayer for the deceased pontiff. The high-ranking priests swore to obey the rules of the funeral plans that Pope Francis made last year. Finally, Bergoglio’s final will and testament were read.
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Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, the day after Easter Sunday. (Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
He requested that the tomb read only «Franciscus,» with no mention of his 12-year papacy, a unique shift from the burial places of past popes.
On Monday in Rome, a rosary service was held for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti.
Beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m. local time (03:00 ET) and continuing until the funeral, Pope Francis’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where mourners can pay their respects.
The procession of Pope Francis’s body will pass through Santa Marta Square, the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs and the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square before entering the Vatican Basilica.
Mourners are welcome to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica in the following days and times:
- Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 11 a.m. – midnight (0500-1800 ET)
- Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 7 a.m. – midnight (0100-1800 ET)
- Friday, April 25, 2025, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (0100-1300 ET)
POPE FRANCIS EMPHASIZED CATHOLICISM GLOBALLY, REACHED BEYOND US, EUROPE INTO IMPOVERISHED NATIONS

Pope Francis is often referred to as «the People’s Pope» and traveled to parts of the world uncommon for popes to visit. (AFP via Getty Images)
What to expect from Pope Francis’ funeral
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. local time, Pope Francis’s life will be celebrated during a Mass presided over by His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.
Bishops, priests, cardinals, archbishops and patriarchs from around the world will officiate the service.
The events will conclude with the beginning of the Novemdiales, a symbolic and procedural period of nine days of prayer, mourning and remembrance.
Another funeral Mass will be held on Sunday by Italian Cardinal and Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Pope Francis will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.
FIRST PHOTOS RELEASED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was from Argentina and the first pope in history from the Global South. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
What does Pope Francis’ will say?
The 266th pontiff revealed his burial wishes just days after being elected in 2013.
«It was his belief that he may not live very long,» Neomi DeAnda, a trained constructive theologian, told Fox News Digital. «He was already in his 70s when he was elected pope, and he wanted to be prepared when God called him home.»
«In the Name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
«Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial.
«I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
TRUMP WILL ATTEND POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL IN ROME DESPITE CONTENTIOUS PAST: ‘LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE!’

Pope Francis’ life will be celebrated in Rome on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (The Associated Press)
«I want my last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary Mariano where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for the docile and maternal care.
«I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex.
«The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus.
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«The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor who I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian.
«May the Lord give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples.»
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Starmer’s digital ID work requirement sparks uproar from UK’s left and right

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The U.K.’s right and left-wing parties have reached an uncommon consensus: they oppose British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s latest attempt to curb illegal immigration through mandatory digital ID cards.
The plan, announced last week and which will be fully rolled out by August 2029, revived a decades-old debate across the U.K. over whether digital IDs will be overly intrusive or even effective in combating illegal migration.
«You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that,» Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said in announcing the compulsory plan.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers his keynote speech during the Labour Party conference at ACC Liverpool on Sept. 30, 2025, in Liverpool, England. ( Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
But while illegal immigration has become an increasing concern across both sides of the aisle in the U.K., Starmer’s approach has been met with open opposition.
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who left the party in 2024 to stand as an Independent, said he «firmly oppose[s] the government’s plans for compulsory digital ID cards.»
«This is an affront to our civil liberties, and will make the lives of minorities even more difficult and dangerous,» he said. «It is excessive state interference — and must be resisted.»
Corbyn, who this week launched his own political movement called «Your Party» as an alternative to what he called the «control freaks» of Labour, echoed similar criticism once voiced by right-wing leader Nigel Farage, who founded Reform UK in opposition to the Conservatives.
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Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks to striking hotel workers on the picket line outside the Village Hotel on Aug. 22, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Farage, in a post on X, said he was also «firmly opposed» to the mandatory digital ID cards and argued, «It will make no difference to illegal immigration, but it will be used to control and penalize the rest of us.»
«The state should never have this much power,» he added.
While Starmer’s plan has drawn fire from both the left and right, albeit for very different reasons, polls suggest the public mood is also shifting.
The Independent reported that more than half of Brits backed digital IDs in June, with fewer than 20% opposed.
But that support appears to have drastically shifted, with nearly half of all Brits now saying they oppose the measure, according to the news outlet.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during a press conference in Westminster, United Kingdom on June 10, 2025. ( Thomas Krych/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The digital ID card, which can be kept on a smartphone, would include a holder’s name, residency status, date of birth and nationality. British reports said it would initially be used only for employment verification, though its scope could be expanded.
The plan faces resistance: more than 2.4 million Brits have signed a petition on Parliament’s website opposing it, the BBC reported. Any petition with over 100,000 signatures must be considered for debate.
The prime minister’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.
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Speculation swirls as AOC is rumored to harbor 2028 aspirations: ‘Savvy politician’

AOC mulls Senate, presidential run: Report
Fox News contributor Hugh Hewitt joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss what’s next for AOC’s political career and Jasmine Crockett’s remarks doubling down on her decision against a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk.
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Rumors have swirled about «Squad» Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political future since she joined Sen. Bernie Sanders’ high-profile «Fighting Oligarchy» tour earlier this year.
The youngest woman ever elected to Congress has become a leading progressive voice in the Democratic Party, amassing millions of social media followers and sparking speculation about a potential U.S. Senate run or White House bid in 2028. Her rise to the national stage comes as Democrats look for fresh leadership after losing up and down the ballot last year.
Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff and campaign manager are both alumni of the Sanders campaign. Mike Casca, her chief of staff, was formerly Sanders’ deputy chief of staff and a fixture of Sanders’ political operation, both on the presidential campaign trail and back on Capitol Hill.
Her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, has worked in politics for over a decade. Prior to joining Ocasio-Cortez’s team in 2023, Hidalgo-Wohlleben was the political director of Sanders’ super PAC, Friends of Bernie Sanders, according to his LinkedIn.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., arrives at a «Fighting Oligarchy» tour event at Arizona State University, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Hidalgo-Wohlleben also worked on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign before joining former President Joe Biden’s campaign in Iowa, Hidalgo-Wohlleben’s LinkedIn profile revealed.
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«AOC is a pretty savvy politician with a strong operation,» Democratic strategist Mike Nellis told Fox News Digital. «No matter what she decides to do, they’re setting her up for the future.»
A Sanders alumnus himself, Nellis cautioned against placing too much weight on what it means for former Sanders staffers to lead Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign.
«I think that’s just who she knows and who she trusts,» Nellis, a former adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, said, adding that Ocasio-Cortez has a «really good team around her.»
«It’s strategic in the sense that they have a lot of relationships already,» Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff said, while emphasizing that it can be a «mistake to keep the old guard» when you are trying to build something new.
«I don’t know that somebody is going to inherit the legacy of Bernie Sanders,» Shroff added.
Axios recently reported that, according to people familiar with Ocasio-Cortez’s political operation, her team is positioning her to run for president or the U.S. Senate in 2028.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during a rally in New York City on May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Schumer is up for re-election in 2028. By then, he will have served 47 years in Congress.
«AOC doesn’t need the Senate,» Republican strategist Matt Gorman told Fox News Digital. «The Senate, at this point, is too small for her. I would expect her to run for president 2028.»
Whether she chooses to run for president or the Senate, Nellis said Ocasio-Cortez has the potential to attract voters who don’t typically engage in the political process, much like the coalition President Donald Trump has built.
«When you are an unconventional candidate outside the mainstream, outside the establishment, you can get a lot of people who will tune in and engage that maybe otherwise wouldn’t because you’re giving voice to them in a meaningful way,» Nellis said.
But Shroff said that Ocasio-Cortez isn’t ready for a presidential campaign.
«She absolutely should not run for president,» Shroff said. «It would be way too soon. I don’t think she’s really achieved enough to justify that.»
«For the Senate, I see that as more realistic, especially in a state like New York, that’s obviously more liberal,» Shroff added, arguing that «some very loyal base Democrats have lost their patience» with Schumer, so his vulnerability could boost Ocasio-Cortez’s chances of securing the Senate seat.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., greeted the crowd together during a «Fighting Oligarchy» tour event at Arizona State University, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin)
Shroff said Ocasio-Cortez’s «media profile and personality and charisma» aren’t enough to win the presidency, especially when running against figures like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, long considered to harbor presidential aspirations.
The New Yorker sparked more campaign buzz this month for participating in an advertisement directly challenging Trump and advocating in favor of California redistricting.
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have both endorsed and campaigned this year for New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist.
If Mamdani wins the mayoral election in November, Shroff said it could be a litmus test for the modern progressive branch of the Democratic Party.
«It will be challenging for him because I don’t think he can do a lot of the things that he said, and so how soon will that leftist ideology be debunked on a national level? The sooner that happens, the worse it is for AOC,» Shroff said.
In April, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign account posted a video on X that drove rumors she could be mulling a presidential run as the four-term Democrat from New York City and the progressive leader proclaimed, «We are one.»
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When asked later that month if she was harboring any presidential ambitions, the young Democrat did not rule out 2028 presidential aspirations to Fox News Digital.
«Bernie and AOC, one thing they understand is that Democrats need to be more than just anti-Trump,» Gorman said, before adding, «I certainly disagree with Bernie and AOC’s strategy of how to lead the party and where to take America, but at least they have one. That’s more than just, ‘I hate Trump.’»
The Republican strategist said the Democratic Party’s «establishment is not going to be able to stop a united, far-left wing of the party this time,» Gorman said.
Ocasio-Cortez’s and Schumer’s campaigns did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
alexandria ocasio cortez,democratic party,presidential,senate elections,new york city
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