The Death and Funeral of Pope Francis

[Prisma]

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako sent their Grand Chamberlain Koro Bessho to the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan in Chiyoda, Tokyo on April 23 to express condolences for the death of Pope Francis.

Source: Sankei

Japan Emperor, Empress Mourn Death of Pope Francis

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako sent Koro Bessho, grand chamberlain…

www.nippon.com

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Crown Prince Akishino, on behalf of Emperor Naruhito, will attend the memorial mass for Pope Francis at St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo on April 27. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will send wreaths.

Sources: NTV, TBS

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RIP Pope Francis

 

[Mbruno]

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako sent their Grand Chamberlain Koro Bessho to the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan in Chiyoda, Tokyo on April 23 to express condolences for the death of Pope Francis.

Source: Sankei

Japan Emperor, Empress Mourn Death of Pope Francis

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako sent Koro Bessho, grand chamberlain…

www.nippon.com

-----

Crown Prince Akishino, on behalf of Emperor Naruhito, will attend the memorial mass for Pope Francis at St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo on April 27. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will send wreaths.

Sources: NTV, TBS

-----

RIP Pope Francis

Who will represent Japan at the funeral?

 

[An Ard Ri]

Who will represent Japan at the funeral?

Japan will send the Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to the funeral of Pope Francis
Japan plans to send foreign minister to pope's funeral

 

[Elisabeth-Amalie]

from Austria the President Alexander van der Bellen aswell as the cancellor Christian Stocker are attending
from Switzerland the President Karin Keller-Sutter is attending.
from Germany the President Frank-Walter Steinmeier aswell as the cancellor Olaf Scholz are attending
from Liechtenstein the hereditary couple aswell as the Bishop Benno Elbs are going to attend.

 

[Stefan]

from Germany the President Frank-Walter Steinmeier aswell as the cancellor Olaf Scholz are attending

Also the President of the Bundestag, the President of the Constitutional Court and the President of Bundesrat, so the Heads from all 5 constitutional Organs.

 

[Alison H]

Someone must be getting very stressed trying to sort out the seating plan!

 

[An Ard Ri]

Someone must be getting very stressed trying to sort out the seating plan!

And a huge security operation too in the middle of Rome.

 

[Stefan]

And a huge security operation too in the middle of Rome.

And tall that under open Air and not inside a building. Could you imagine what would happen if there would be heavy rain or a thunderstorm like at the spanish Royal wedding in Madrid

 

[Mbruno]

Someone must be getting very stressed trying to sort out the seating plan!

I suppose security is the most critical concern, not least because the funeral mass will be celebrated outdoors at St Peter's Square.

Personally I wish they moved it indoors to the Basilica (for security reasons), but I understand the Church wants to allow as many people as possible to follow the mass in person.

 

[An Ard Ri]

And tall that under open Air and not inside a building. Could you imagine what would happen if there would be heavy rain or a thunderstorm like at the spanish Royal wedding in Madrid

And also the Pope is not being buried at the Vatican and at a church outside the Vatican too.

 

[Stefan]

And also the Pope is not being buried at the Vatican and at a church outside the Vatican too.

I think that is the smallest Issue

 

[Elly C]

I think that is the smallest Issue

No it’s not! The Vatican is well used to dealing with high security in St Peter’s Square. This is an entirely different venue with challenges and drills that have not been rehearsed many times over .

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think that is the smallest Issue

St Peter's Square is the smaller area to control ,this church is the other side of the River Tiber and involves the Italian army/police.

 

[Stefan]

No it’s not! The Vatican is well used to dealing with high security in St Peter’s Square. This is an entirely different venue with challenges and drills that have not been rehearsed many times over .

What i meant is that as far as i have understand the coffin will be in a Car and the Cardinals and people will also be transported in Cars and not walk like at the funeral processions of QEII for example.
At St Peters Square the will all be under the clear sky

 

[Elly C]

Yes, I see your point but it’s a security nightmare.

 

[An Ard Ri]

What i meant is that as far as i have understand the coffin will be in a Car and the Cardinals and people will also be transported in Cars and not walk like at the funeral processions of QEII for example.
At St Peters Square the will all be under the clear sky

There will be hundreds/thousands of people lining the streets from the Vatican to the Basilica
There will be a Military escort and there will be there a huge police presence too.

Its a much larger scale operation than at St Peters Square.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

I suppose security is the most critical concern, not least because the funeral mass will be celebrated outdoors at St Peter's Square.

Personally I wish they moved it indoors to the Basilica (for security reasons), but I understand the Church wants to allow as many people as possible to follow the mass in person.

They used to do it indoors before… I belive Paul VI was the one who wanted to have his funeral outdoors and his successors have continued with that

 

[Hans-Rickard]

And tall that under open Air and not inside a building. Could you imagine what would happen if there would be heavy rain or a thunderstorm like at the spanish Royal wedding in Madrid

The funeral of Pope John Paul I was held under heavy rainshowers… There was a sea of umbrellas all over the square…

Though it was a smaller affair when it came to vip guests as it sadly became the 2:nd papal funeral in 1978 after his 33 days short pontificate.. It was decided that the foreign countries should be represented by their ambassadors.

 

[An Ard Ri]

The funeral of Pope John Paul I was held under heavy rainshowers… There was a sea of umbrellas all over the square…

Though it was a smaller affair when it came to vip guests as it sadly became the 2:nd papal funeral in 1978 after his 33 days short pontificate.. It was decided that the foreign countries should be represented by their ambassadors.

The weather is forecast to be warm with a few showers possible in the afternoon.
A high of 23C forecast tomorrow
Rome - BBC Weather

Former US President Joe Biden will be attending the Funeral

Current US President Donald Trump departed Joint Base Andrews enroute to Rome to attend tomorrows funeral.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

The weather is forecast to be warm with a few showers possible in the afternoon.
A high of 23C forecast tomorrow
Rome - BBC Weather

Sounds like they couldn’t have asked for better weather then

 

[Mbruno]

Letter from D.Duarte, Duke of Braganza and Head of the Portuguese Royal House to the Apostolic Nuncio in Portugal following the death of Pope Francis.

Casa Real Portuguesa on Instagram: "Carta do Chefe da Casa Real Poruguesa ao Núncio Apostólico em Portugal na sequência da morte do Santo Padre no passado dia 21 de Abril."

82 likes, 0 comments - casarealpt on April 24, 2025: "Carta do Chefe da Casa Real Poruguesa ao Núncio Apostólico em Portugal na sequência da morte do Santo Padre no passado dia 21 de Abril.".

www.instagram.com

Has Dom Duarte been invited to the funeral?

I still don't have an answer to whether the Vatican extends separate invitations to non-reigning Catholic royal houses or not.

Former US President Joe Biden will be attending the Funeral

Current US President Donald Trump departed Joint Base Andrews enroute to Rome to attend tomorrows funeral.

Will Joe Biden be denied communion as (conservative) Cardinal Raymond Burke claimed he should be?

That is just a rhetorical question by the way, but illustrates some of the issues that will underlie the upcoming conclave.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Someone must be getting very stressed trying to sort out the seating plan!

They managed for Pope John Paul II, which was reportedly the King Kong of papal funerals. The Wiki page listing of foreign delegations is a sight to see.

Along with the British Royals, nobody finesses State funerals like the Vatican.

Will Joe Biden be denied communion as (conservative) Cardinal Raymond Burke claimed he should be?

That is just a rhetorical question by the way, but illustrates some of the issues that will underlie the upcoming conclave.

If Biden is denied the Sacrament(he won't be nor should he be), literally half the other Catholic dignitaries in attendance should be as well.

 

[doro]

Royals confirmed so far

Belgium: TM The King and Queen
Denmark: HM The Queen
Liechtenstein: TSH The Hereditary Princely Couple
Luxembourg: TRH The Grand Ducal Couple
Monaco: TSH The Princely Couple
Norway: TRH The Crown Prince Couple
Spain: TM The King and Queen
Sweden: TM The King and Queen
UK: HRH The Prince of Wales

 

[Linda_26]

Royals confirmed so far

Belgium: TM The King and Queen
Denmark: HM The Queen
Luxembourg: TRH The Grand Ducal Couple
Norway: TRH The Crown Prince Couple
Spain: TM The King and Queen
Sweden: TM The King and Queen
UK: HRH The Prince of Wales

Also Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco and Hereditary Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, see page 5 of this thread

 

[Blog Real]

Letter from D.Duarte, Duke of Braganza and Head of the Portuguese Royal House to the Apostolic Nuncio in Portugal following the death of Pope Francis.

Casa Real Portuguesa on Instagram: "Carta do Chefe da Casa Real Poruguesa ao Núncio Apostólico em Portugal na sequência da morte do Santo Padre no passado dia 21 de Abril."

82 likes, 0 comments - casarealpt on April 24, 2025: "Carta do Chefe da Casa Real Poruguesa ao Núncio Apostólico em Portugal na sequência da morte do Santo Padre no passado dia 21 de Abril.".

www.instagram.com

Here is a list of some of the television broadcasts of Pope Francis' funeral for tomorrow with local times:

Portugal - RTP1, SIC and TVI (08.00 - 13.00)

Finland - yleTV1 (10.45 - 14.15)

Sweden - SVT2 (09:00 - 11.50)

SVT Nyheter Direkt

Livesändningar från SVT Nyheter vid nyhetshändelser och från presskonferenser.

www.svtplay.se

Spain - TVE (La1) (09.00 - 15.00)
Antena 3 (09.30 - 13.55)
Telecinco (09.15 - 13.25)

Denmark - DR1 (09.30 - 12.45)

Norway - NRK1 (09.00 - 14.00)

Belgium - VRT1 (09.00 - 12.47)
La Une (08.00 - 11.55)

Netherlands - NPO2 (09.30 - 13.00)

Germany - ARD (09.50 - 13.30)

United Kingdom - BBC One (08.30 - 12.30)

France - France 2 (08.00 - 12.55)
TF1 (08.00 - 13.00)

Italy - RAI 1 (08.25 - 13.30)

Outside Europe you can watch the funeral on BBC, Sky News, CNN or Euronews and on the Internet.

Prince Emanuele Filiberto at the wake for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

https://www.facebook.com/emanuelefilibertofanspage/posts/1248517713297709

 

[principessa]

Do you think that relatives of the late pope will sit in the first rows at the funeral tomorrow?

 

[Biri]

And who will represent Argentina, te late Pope's homeland?
Only President and First Lady?

Will The Kingdom of Tonga send any representative? This monarchy is a Christian one too.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

When dignitaries like Prince EF come to pay their respects at St. Peter's, is the Basilica closed or are the crowds just held back?

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Do you think that relatives of the late pope will sit in the first rows at the funeral tomorrow?

I’m sure those of the late popes relatives who has made the journey to the Vatican will sit in the front, close to the coffin.

Some of them followed behind the coffin on Wednesday, during the procession from Casa Santa Marta to St Peters Basilica.

 

[Stefan]

When dignitaries like Prince EF come to pay their respects at St. Peter's, is the Basilica closed or are the crowds just held back?

I guess the come in at another entrance. He also comes closer the coffin if i see it right then the normal people.
At the lying in State for QEII dignitaries could go on a special erected Tribune at the side