As it happened: Coffin of Pope Francis sealed after 250,000 pay homage to head of Catholic Church
Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed after a quarter of million people visited the late spiritual leader, as heads of state fly in to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square
The coffin of Pope Francis has been sealed in a private ceremony held by the Vatican ahead of Saturday’s funeral after 250,000 people farewelled the pontiff this week as he lay in state.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell presided at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin, which was attended by several Cardinals and Holy See officials.
Controversy was also stirred after a retired US cardinal who has faced accusations of mishandling sexual abuse cases was chosen to help seal the coffin and entomb the pontiff’s remains during the burial rites.
Advocates for Catholic clergy sexual abuse victims criticised the appointment of Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011, for the ceremonial role at the Pope’s funeral. Mahony denies any wrongdoing.
World leaders are flying in ahead of the ceremony in St Peter’s Square, with US president Donald Trump among the heads of state attending. Before departing Washington, Trump told reports Pope Francis was a “good man” who “loved the world”.
While Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was also among those due to attend, he cast doubt on his plans on Friday evening due to the ongoing war with Russia, which is also sending a dignitary to the funeral.
Security arrangements ahead of the major event include snipers stationed on rooftops, and fighter jets on standby. Streets surrounding the Vatican are under strict control, with law enforcement agencies coordinating to manage the expected influx of hundreds of thousands of mourners.
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There had been speculation that foreign leaders might have diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the funeral to discuss the war in Ukraine, but the Elysee Palace said on Friday that France’s Emmanuel Macron would not host any such meetings.
Donald Trump was due to spend only about 15 hours in Rome, arriving late on Friday evening and leaving directly after the funeral.
What will happen during sealing of Pope Francis's coffin?
Pope Francis’s coffin will be sealed in a ritual on Friday evening, marking the end of the three days of public viewing in St Peter’s Basilica.
This will be conducted by American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a trusted aide to Pope Francis and the current camerlengo - the official who runs the Holy See between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of the next one.
In one break from tradition, Pope Francis eschewed the previous three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak and will be interred in a simplified zinc coffin, inside a wooden casket.
The tomb is being prepared behind a wooden barrier within the basilica that he chose to be near an icon of the Madonna that he revered and often prayed before.
Photos released by the Vatican on Friday show the marble tombstone flat against the pavement, with the simple engraving in Latin that he requested in his last testament: "Franciscus".
A bag of coins minted during Francis’s time as pope is placed in the coffin, along with a one-page account of his papacy. That account is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies before being rolled up into a tube that is put in the coffin.
Senior members of the Catholic Church will attend the ceremony, as well as the late Pope’s secretaries, Vatican News reports.
Trump praises Pope Francis as 'a good man' who 'loved the world'
Accompanied by US first lady Melania Trump, the funeral of Pope Francis will be Donald Trump’s first foreign trip of his second term.
“He was a good man, worked hard, he loved the world,” the US president told reporters.
When a reporter noted to Trump that the pope preached tolerance for migrants, the president replied: “Yes, he did.” The reporter asked Trump if he agreed, and he replied, “Yeah, I do.”
In 2016, while Mr Trump’s calls for a border wall with Mexico rang across the globe, the late pontiff had said: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”
Anger as US cardinal accused of covering up abuse given ceremonial honour of closing pope’s coffin
Advocates for victims of church abuse have hit out after it emerged a disgraced U.S. cardinal is to help close and seal Pope Francis’ casket ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
Cardinal Roger Mahony, 89, was selected by the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations to be one of nine clergymen to be present at the ceremonial Rite of Sealing of the Coffin on Friday in St Peter’s Basilica. Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011, will also oversee the pope’s interment at Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major following the service in St. Peter’s Square this weekend, the Vatican announced.
The cardinal was stripped of his administrative and public duties with immediate effect in January 2013 by his successor, Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez, after he was accused of shielding priests embroiled in a child sex abuse scandal between the 1980s and 1990s to protect the Catholic Church.
James Liddell reports:
Anger as US cardinal accused of covering up church abuse given Pope Francis honor
Zelensky may miss Pope Francis's funeral - reports
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky may miss Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome on Saturday because of important military meetings, according to reports.
The Ukraine leader was meant to join fellow world leaders in attending the pontiff’s funeral, but has reportedly now said he may have to attend a “number of meetings” following Russia’s strike on Kyiv on Thursday, according to the BBC.
Zelensky told reporters: “If I am not (there) in time, Ukraine will be represented at a proper level”, noting that Ukraine's foreign minister and first lady will be there.
“There are several closed questions about this strike and about Ukraine's corresponding steps. I don't know how long it will take. So if I have time, I will definitely be present (at the funeral),” Zelensky said.
Trump’s two-word verdict on Pope Francis’ funeral as he departs for Rome
Trump’s two-word verdict on Pope Francis’ funeral as he departs for Rome
The pope's coffin has officially been sealed
The Vatican held a liturgical rite at 7pm UK time in which they privately sealed the late pontiff’s coffin ahead of the funeral tomorrow.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell presided at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin of the late Pope Francis, which was attended by several Cardinals and Holy See officials.
It marked the end of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, which saw hundreds of thousands of people pay their respects to the late Pope.
Quarter of a million people viewed Pope's body in three days
Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, the Vatican said on the eve of his funeral.
World leaders and dignitaries were arriving in Rome on Friday, to attend what will be a huge gathering in St Peter's Square for his requiem mass.
The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter's Basilica, before his coffin was closed in private.
World leaders to be seated in alphabetical order - but in French language
As world leaders are set to attend the pope’s funeral on Saturday morning, a Vatican spokesperson has confirmed that Francis’s birth country of Argentina, then Italy, will take precedence.
Thereafter, reigning sovereigns will be seated "in alphabetical order, but in French language", followed by heads of state.
The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, has predicted the funeral will be a “masterpiece” in stage-managing “big egos”.
What to expect at Pope Francis’ funeral
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