Pope Francis updates: Pope Francis' coffin has been closed

The funeral for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, the Vatican said.

Last Updated: April 25, 2025, 5:50 PM EDT

Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican said.

The pontiff's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, according to the Vatican. Francis' death on Monday came after a series of worsening health problems, including a diagnosis of double pneumonia that put him in the hospital for more than a month earlier this year.

Watch ABC News live coverage of the funeral for Pope Francis on Saturday starting at 3:30 a.m. ET on ABC stations and streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Apr 25, 2025, 9:51 AM EDT

Bidens to attend Pope Francis' funeral

Former President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, a spokesperson for the former president confirmed to ABC News.

Biden is the second Catholic president in U.S. history, after John F. Kennedy.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are expected to be in attendance as well.

Apr 25, 2025, 4:26 AM EDT

Over 200,000 people expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral

Over 200.000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, the Rome Mayor's office told ABC News.

Officials also said that with the over 120.000 faithful visiting in the first two days of the pope lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, they would not be surprised if it turned out to be a lot more.

-ABC News' Camilla Alcini

Apr 25, 2025, 4:09 AM EDT

Over 128,000 people have entered St. Peter's Basilica to say goodbye to Pope Francis

The Vatican press office said St. Peter's Basilica remained open until 2:30 a.m. last night and reopened on Friday morning at 5:40 a.m.

From the morning of April 23 at 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. this morning, over 128,000 people have entered St. Peter's Basilica to say goodbye to Pope Francis.

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson

Apr 24, 2025, 9:51 AM EDT

130 foreign delegations confirmed to attend Pope Francis’ funeral

As of Thursday, 130 foreign delegations have confirmed they are attending Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday morning, the Vatican press office said.

That number includes “approximately” 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns, the Vatican said.

-ABC News’ Phoebe Natanson

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