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A papal farewell

“Dear brothers and sisters, good evening.”

Those were Pope Francis’ first words as the new pontiff ([link removed]) of the Catholic Church, delivered more than 12 years ago from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, known for his humble lifestyle and for speaking out for the marginalized, thanked the crowd ([link removed]) for its “embrace.”

From that same platform this April, Francis appeared for the traditional blessing for Easter Sunday. It was one of his final acts.

After the pope’s death Monday, mourners from around the world have come to view his “mortal remains” ahead of Saturday’s funeral. The hundreds of thousands who flocked to Vatican City have paid tribute to the religious leader who never seemed to forget the most vulnerable.

Francis’ casket wasn’t displayed on an elevated platform as past popes have been, reflecting his long-held belief that a pope is simply a pastor and “not a powerful man of this world.” ([link removed])

This newsletter was compiled by Joshua Barajas. ([link removed])
HOW TO WATCH THE FUNERAL FOR POPE FRANCIS
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Watch Pope Francis’ funeral in the player above.
In keeping with Pope Francis’ wishes for a pared-down goodbye, the funeral rites have been simplified ([link removed]) , such as using a single zinc-lined, wooden coffin instead of three.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26 in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time.

PBS News will begin streaming the event at 4 a.m. EDT. Watch live here. ([link removed])

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside. The Vatican posted the booklet ([link removed]) for the celebration on its website.

You can also follow the PBS News’ coverage on YouTube ([link removed]) , X ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) and TikTok ([link removed]) , and see highlights on our Instagram. ([link removed])

Dozens of world leaders are expected to attend, including President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Argentinian President Javier Milei. They’ll be among the 200,000-plus faithful expected to attend from all over the world.

A ‘PASTORAL’ POPE
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Photo by Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
When Bishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pontiff at the age of 76 in 2013, he notched several “firsts.” He was the first pope from the Americas or Southern Hemisphere. The first Jesuit pope. And the first to take the name of Francis, after Saint Francis of Assisi, “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation,” he said of his decision. ([link removed])

Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis stressed this church’s role in reaching out to the margins of society ([link removed]) , engaging with poor people and migrants and being more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people.

As one cardinal put it, Francis was a “pastoral pope” ([link removed]) who showed the church how "to go out and bring the Gospel to reality, to all creation."

Francis made some 45 international trips ([link removed]) as head of the Catholic Church. He was the first pope to visit Iraq, as well as other countries in the Middle East and Asia.

His papacy was not free of criticism. Francis drew backlash for how he addressed allegations of sexual abuse committed by clergy, later apologizing to the victims ([link removed]) he had discredited. Conservative Catholic opposition to Francis grew as he sought to reshape the church, while more progressive factions were frustrated that he didn’t break away from the church’s traditional stance on abortion rights or women in the clergy.

“He didn't change any doctrine, but he certainly changed the culture of the church,” the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior analyst for Religion News Service, told PBS News. ([link removed]) “He hated clericalism. He told bishops and priests not to act like princes, but to get down with their people and listen to them and care for them.”

Francis’ final resting place will be the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s four major basilicas. He paid a visit to the church, which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, after every trip abroad.

Francis requested that his tomb remain plain and unadorned, marked with a simple inscription: “Franciscus.” ([link removed])

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FUNERAL?

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Watch the segment in the player above.

In short, a conclave.

This centuries-old tradition is how cardinals elect a new pope. ([link removed]) It’s scheduled to begin mid-May and will take place in the Sistine Chapel. Some 135 cardinals, who are sealed off from the outside world, are eligible to vote in the secretive process.

A two-thirds majority will determine who will become the next pontiff.

Author David Willey told PBS News he thinks this is going to be the “mother of all conclaves.”

“There is going to be a very, very strong debate in secret in the Vatican over the next three weeks between those cardinals who would be happier to see a more traditionalist pope take over from Francis and those who want his reforms to continue,” he said.
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