Prince William will represent the Royal Family at the funeral of Pope Francis, which will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince of Wales will attend on behalf of King Charles, joining other global leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, scheduled to commence at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from around the world will concelebrate the Mass, which will end with the traditional Ultima commendatio and Valedictio. The rites mark the beginning of the nine-day mourning period known as the Novemdiales.
Earlier in the week, Pope Francis’s coffin will be carried in a solemn procession from the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica, where members of the public can pay their respects. The Vatican has announced that the basilica will be open to the faithful for extended hours from Wednesday through Friday.
King Charles, who met Pope Francis privately with Queen Camilla two weeks before the Pope’s death, expressed his sorrow at the news. In a statement, the king described the pontiff as a man of “compassion” and praised his commitment to “the common causes of all people of faith.” The royal meeting, which coincided with the King and Queen’s 20th wedding anniversary, was reportedly a deeply personal and moving encounter.
Downing Street confirmed that Prime Minister Kier Starmer will also be attending the funeral. A spokesperson said that it was appropriate for the UK leader to honor the Pope’s life and leadership during what they described as “a complex and challenging time.”
Tributes to the late Pope have also come from across the religious spectrum. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, said Pope Francis had often given voice to those who felt “without hope.” He praised the pontiff’s commitment to human dignity and care for the marginalised.
The selection of a new pope will follow the mourning period, with 135 voting cardinals convening for a conclave. Three of the four cardinals based in the UK—Nichols, Radcliffe, and Roche—are eligible to vote.
