- Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. “At 7.35 in the morning the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to his father's house. All his life was devoted to the service of the Lord and his Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell
- The Polish authorities decided that on April 26 it will be a day of national mourning. The principles of its introduction are regulated by the Act of 31 January 1980 on the emblem, colors and hymns of the Republic of Poland and about state seals. It is recommended for citizens to refrain from organizing loud events or decorating the colorful decorations of public space
- Funeral liturgy at 10 in the Vatican will be chaired by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the cardinal college. It is expected that before 2pm the coffin with the pope's body will reach the Basilica of the Larger Mother, where the poor and the homeless
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Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. “At 7.35 in the morning the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to his father's house. His whole life was devoted to the service of the Lord and his Church” – Donated Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerling of the Holy Roman Church. Cardinals from around the world during the conclave will choose a new pope.
On the day of the Pope's funeral in Poland there will be national mourning. Candidates in the presidential election, except for Sławomir Mentzen, do not plan campaign activity on this day.
National mourning. When can it be introduced?
Principles of introduction national mourning In Poland, it is regulated by the Act of 31 January 1980 on the emblem, colors and anthem of the Republic of Poland and about state seals. According to the law, the President of the Republic of Poland may decide on its introduction. He does this by way of regulation with the countersignate of the prime minister. The document should include information such as the reasons for the introduction of mourning, as well as its duration. The president should take into account both cultural and historical conditions as well as adopted customs.
The flag at the Presidential Palace, abandoned to the mast, during national mourning
National mourning can be introduced after the death of an outstanding personality related to a given country, as well as because of tragic events or as a kind of tribute to the victims of the disaster. In Poland, such periods were announced, among others After the death of Pope John Paul II, after the Smolensk disaster or after the assassination at the World Trade Center towers. The last time national mourning was introduced in Poland in February 2019 after the death of the former Prime Minister of Jan Olszewski.
National mourning. Are penalties possible for breaking it?
On April 26, citizens are recommended to refrain from organizing loud events or decorating colorful public space decorations. In fact, it is only up to the good will of the organizers whether this type of event will take place.
There is no article in Polish law to adapt to the regulation on compliance with national mourning. Therefore, citizens are not threatened with any penalties. In art. 49 parish 1 of the Code of Offenses, there is only one provision regarding demonstrative and disregarding behavior towards the Polish nation. There is a fine or arrest.
It should also be remembered that in the regulation issued by Donald Tusk after the decision of Andrzej Duda to establish national mourning, there is no provision on the ban on organizing mass events. Many events, e.g. football matches and concerts, take place as planned, but they will be preceded by a minute of silence.
The funeral of Pope Francis. How will the ceremony run?
Saint Peter Square, where the funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, was closed on Friday at 17. From now on, no one is allowed there. Italian civil defense informed about it, sending a phone alert with information to millions of people. At 20 in the Basilica of St. Peter took place a rite of closing the Pope's coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, announced that the solemn mass. Franciszek's funeral will start in front of the Basilica of St. Piotr on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10 o'clock. It will also be the first day of the funeral novena (Novendiali) – i.e. nine Masses. In the next nine days for the soul of Francis.
The funeral liturgy will be chaired by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the Cardinal College, who will also give a homily. Mass The funeral will be concelebrated by patriarchs and cardinals, archbishops and bishops, priest.
Giovanni Battista Re
At the end of the Mass. The litany to All Saints will be sung, followed by the prayer of the Eastern Churches and the Responsorion.
On St. Piotr is to participate in about 200,000 people and 170 official delegations. The first place will be taken by a delegation from Argentina, the pope's homeland. President Javier Milei will be at its head. The next delegation will be the Italian delegation, in which President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Melons will be. In subsequent rows, crowned heads and representatives of countries in alphabetical order in French will sit, which results from the findings of the protocol. Poland will be represented by: President Andrzej Duda with his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, as well as a group of deputies and senators
The ride of a funeral conduct with the coffin of Pope Francis after Saturday's funeral ceremony at St. Peter's Square to the Basilica of the Larger Mother, where he will be buried, will last about half an hour.
The Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained during a press conference on the eve of the funeral that the conduct would set off not from St. Peter's Square, but through the side gate of the Vatican – Perugino. The route to the Basilica of Our Lady (Santa Maria Maggiore) is about 6 km. It is expected that before 14.00 the coffin will reach the Basilica of Our Lady, where the poor and the homeless will welcome her, and then she will be brought to the Pauline chapel. There is the icon of Our Lady of Salus Populi Romani – saving the Roman people – before which Franciszek prayed many times, including before and after each of your apostolic trip.
The coffin with Franciszek's body and a photo of the pope on it will be placed just before the icon to say goodbye to Mary in this image. Then he will be laid in the grave next to this chapel, located – according to the will of Francis – in the ground. On the tombstone there is a plate from Ligurian stone with the inscription “Franciscus”. It is also the will of the pope's will. The last farewell to the Pope's coffin with the image of Mary will be broadcast. However, the ceremony of assembling the casket in the grave will be private and will not be broadcast.
It will be the first funeral of the Pope in over a hundred years outside the Vatican Basilica, since the burial of Leon XIII in the Lateran Basilica in 1903.
