Pope Francis updates: Pope Francis' coffin has been closed

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

ByMorgan Winsor, Kevin Shalvey, and Jon Haworth
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, 4:17 PM EDT

Pope Francis' coffin has been closed

The viewing of the casket of Pope Francis has ended, and his casket has been closed, according to the Vatican press office.

The rite of the closing of the coffin took place at 8 p.m. local time Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, officials said. During the rite, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, interim manager of the Vatican until a new pope is elected, read the deed, which was then placed in the coffin at the end of the ceremony.

The body of Pope Francis lies in a casket before it's sealed, at St. Peter's Basilica, ahead of his funeral at the Vatican, April 25, 2025.
Francesco Sforza/Vatcan Media via Reuters

Some of Pope Francis' family members participated in the rite.

A presence of prayer and vigil will take place throughout the night until preparations begin for Holy Mass on Saturday morning for Francis' funeral, according to the Vatican.

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson

Apr 25, 2025, 1:34 PM EDT

About 250,000 people visit St. Peter's Basilica to pay homage to Pope Francis

Over three days, about 250,000 people visited St. Peter’s Basilica to pay homage to Pope Francis, the Vatican press office said.

Members of the public line up to pay their respects to late Pope Francis as he lies in state inside Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, April 24, 2025.
Alessandro Di Meo/epa-efe/shutte/ALESSANDRO DI MEO/EPA-EFE/Shutte

The viewing ended Friday at 7 p.m. local time.

-ABC News’ Phoebe Natanson

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

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