Preparations Begin for Sealing of Pope Francis’ Coffin; President Droupadi Murmu to Pay Respects, Funeral Tomorrow
Vatican City: Preparations are underway for the sealing ceremony of Pope Francis’ coffin ahead of his state funeral scheduled for Saturday. The ritual will be presided over by the Camerlengo of the Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in the presence of several cardinals and officials of the Holy See. The religious ceremony is set to take place today at St. Peter’s Basilica. Indian President Droupadi Murmu will also be present during the funeral.
According to Vatican News, the Basilica was opened to the public on Wednesday morning, and over 50,000 people visited within 24 hours to pay their final respects at the Altar of Confession. St. Peter’s Basilica remained open until 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, and reopened an hour and a half later.
Several high-ranking clerics, including Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, Dominique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Balthasar Reina, and Konrad Krajewski, will be present during the coffin-sealing ritual. Assisting them will be Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, members of the Vatican Chapter, Minor Penitentiaries, Pope Francis’ secretary, and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli.
President Droupadi Murmu to Remain in Vatican City for Two Days
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Thursday that President Droupadi Murmu will be in Vatican City on April 25 and 26 to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. She will represent India and convey condolences on behalf of the government and people of India. On April 25, President Murmu will pay tribute at St. Peter’s Basilica, and on April 26, she will attend the funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Square, which will see the participation of several world leaders and dignitaries.
U.S. President Donald Trump to Attend Funeral
The Vatican announced that at least 130 foreign delegations have confirmed attendance at Pope Francis’ funeral, including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs. Notable attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, UK’s Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Indian PM Modi Offers Condolences
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, saying, “India will always remember the Pope’s affection for its people.” He added, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. My heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community during this time of grief and remembrance.” He praised the Pope’s legacy as a symbol of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage, noting his lifelong commitment to the ideals of Jesus Christ and service to the poor and downtrodden.
India Declares National Mourning on Saturday
The Government of India has declared April 26 as a day of national mourning to honor Pope Francis’ funeral. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the national flag will fly at half-mast across all government buildings where it is usually displayed, and there will be no official entertainment. Earlier, India had observed three days of mourning following the Pope’s death. On April 22, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh visited the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi to sign the condolence book.
Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013, was the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.