Pope Francis’s Funeral: The Ceremony, World Leaders, Strict Dress Code, and Steps Toward the Conclave

The Pope of the Poor, migrants, and the vulnerable, Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning at the age of 88, will be laid to rest today, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Rome. The funeral is expected to draw a vast number of faithful and high-ranking officials from around the globe. This ceremony aims to bid farewell to a pontiff who served the Catholic Church for over a decade. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Pope Francis was the first Jesuit and Latin American pope. His death came on Easter Monday after blessing the faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. The event is anticipated to attract dignitaries worldwide alongside tens of thousands of devotees. Diplomatic protocols are being meticulously handled to avoid any disruptions or diplomatic tensions. State leaders will sit alphabetically by their countries’ names in French, the traditional language of diplomacy when these protocols were established. A strict dress code requires men to wear black suits with black ties and buttons on their left lapels, while women must don black dresses, gloves, and veils. Only a single strand of pearls is allowed as jewelry. Vatican officials emphasized that the event will be solemn, with stringent security measures ensuring its dignity. Crowds of worshippers, Romans, and international visitors are expected to line the route, paying their final respects to the beloved Pope. Meanwhile, the Church prepares for the crucial steps ahead, as the process to select his successor begins immediately after May 5 in a conclave that will decide the future of the Catholic Church. The funeral of Pope Francis will take place at St. Peter’s Square in Rome at 10:00 AM local time (11:00 AM Greece time), six days after his passing, following three days of public viewing where nearly 130,000 faithful paid their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica.