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More than 150 foreign delegations were expected, with attendees including President Trump; former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; and President Javier Milei of Argentina, where Francis was born. A group of refugees and homeless people, two groups for whom Francis advocated throughout his 12-year papacy, also planned to attend, according to the charity St. Egidio.

Here is what else to know:

• Simplified ceremony: The changes Francis introduced for a papal funeral last year reflect his view of the pope as a humble pastor rather than a powerful figure, although the rites will still be on a grand scale.

• Francis’ burial: After the Mass, a vehicle will transport Francis’ wood coffin to St. Mary Major, a papal basilica in Rome that the pope loved. A group of “poor and needy” people will greet his body at the steps, the Vatican said. Then, he will be buried during a private ceremony in a tomb with a frieze of a cross and the one-word inscription “Franciscus.”

• Choosing a successor: After the burial, the focus will turn in earnest to the election of the next pope by the College of Cardinals. Several names have surfaced as possible successors.

• Politics as backdrop: The solemn funeral ceremony will unfold against a backdrop of geopolitical turmoil and war. Some of those expected to attend, notably Mr. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, have been directly at odds with each other. Other attendees criticized Francis during his papacy. Mr. Milei once dismissed Francis, the first pope from Latin America, as a “filthy leftist.”

There is sustained applause in the crowd as the Pope’s coffin is borne slowly toward the ceremony.

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15. Reuters

That embrace of modesty is etched throughout his legacy.

He sought to overhaul, and at times rejected, papal pageantry and the formality long associated with the Roman Catholic Church. He chose his papal name from St. Francis of Assisi, who dedicated his life to the poor. He rode in a Ford Focus, wore basic black shoes and took meals in a communal cafeteria. For his living quarters, he opted for a guesthouse next to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City instead of the more ornate papal apartments.

And he set to work on simplifying papal funerals.

In April 2024, Francis approved a liturgical book that included a new set of rules emphasizing that “the funeral of the Roman pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world,” Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of apostolic ceremonies, said when the book was published.

This week inside St. Peter’s, where tens of thousands of faithful came to pay their last respects, Francis’ body lay in a coffin that was placed low to the ground instead of on an elevated bier. Instead of nesting the coffin inside two additional coffins before burial, as was done for popes in the past, Francis is being laid to rest in one.

The departure from earlier papal burials is “totally in line with how Pope Francis led,” said Mathew Schmalz, a professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He added of Francis, “He wanted a papacy that was more reachable, that was down to earth and was able to engage with Catholics in their daily lives.”

Of course, for a pope, simplicity is relative. While some of the funerary pomp and ceremony has been scaled back, Francis was still the religious leader to over a billion Catholics, and some traditions that date back centuries will endure. His funeral is being attended by dignitaries from around the world, and crowds have gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square for the funeral.

Whereas many popes have been buried at St. Peter’s, Francis will be interred at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a 17th-century chapel dear to him in Rome. His tomb, according to his will, is inscribed with a single word: “Franciscus.”

He was accompanied by his wife, Melania, and a clutch of senior aides. But his predecessor, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his wife, Jill, flew in on their own.

Considering that Mr. Trump had recently stripped Mr. Biden of his security clearances, and regularly denounces him, it is understandable that neither man wanted to share a ride to Rome. (When former President Jimmy Carter died in December, Mr. Trump said he had passed away “a happy man” in the knowledge that “he wasn’t the worst. President Joe Biden was.”)

Mr. Biden has often talked about his Roman Catholic upbringing. He saw Pope Francis briefly at a summit meeting in Italy last June, weeks before the disastrous debate with Mr. Trump that led to his decision to drop out of the presidential race. Mr. Biden had talked about returning to Rome to get the pope’s blessing just before leaving the White House, but canceled the trip because of the Los Angeles wildfires in January.

Asked on Air Force One on the flight to Rome on Friday evening whether he planned to talk with Mr. Biden at the funeral, Mr. Trump sounded surprised that his predecessor was attending. “It’s not high on my list,” he said. “It’s really not.”

The contrast with the 2005 papal funeral was stark. Mr. Bush was eager to ensure that Mr. Clinton was part of the full presidential party. The former president sat in on the highly classified presidential daily brief on the flight over. The two men showed up together at the funeral itself.

But the joined-at-the-hip act ended in the evening. Mr. Bush went to sleep early, around the time Mr. Clinton was just heading out. One night during the visit, Mr. Clinton was dining in a private room at a small, highly rated Italian restaurant when he realized that many of the White House reporters who had covered him as president were eating at a big table in the main dining room.

Naturally, he called us in to join him for dessert and espresso, and told stories until the early hours of the morning.

Vatican protocol offers a solution to the potential geopolitical awkwardness: the alphabet.

At Francis’ open-air funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, members of foreign delegations are divided into groups, like monarchs and heads of government, and will be seated in their group in alphabetical order based on their country’s name in French, according to a list released by the Vatican. Reigning monarchs go first, followed by heads of state, heads of government, royals and on down the line to include ministers and other dignitaries.

Only the heads of state of Italy and the pope’s native Argentina will get privileged seats. The delegation with the country’s president, Javier Milei, will sit closest to the square, the Vatican said, followed by Italy’s.

Some other recent high-profile ceremonies produced interesting seating combinations — such as the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, when Mr. Trump sat next to President Emmanuel Macron of France, or former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, when Mr. Trump was beside former President Barack Obama.

For the Vatican, all countries are equal before the alphabet. But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance of awkward moments.

According to the Vatican’s list, the president of the United States — les États-Unis in French — is likely to be between the leaders of Estonia and Finland, two countries that share a border with Russia and may look warily upon Mr. Trump’s courting of Moscow as he seeks to end the war in Ukraine.

The guest list the Vatican released, if followed for seating, could lead to geographically disparate pairings like those at some international summits. President Halla Tomasdottir of Iceland is supposed to be side be side with President William Ruto of Kenya. Leaders from Belize and Austria may also sit together as they say their last goodbyes to Francis.

Most streets leading to the Vatican were closed to regular traffic, and more than a dozen bus lines were diverted. Helicopters could be heard flying near St. Peter’s Square.

Some 3,000 volunteers would help those attending the funeral and support law enforcement agents, a spokesman for Italy’s Civil Protection Department said. Hundreds of emergency health workers are on hand to provide medical assistance.

The area is expected to be packed. Huge screens were set up at various points leading to the square to allow those further away to follow the funeral.

As is the case when there are large gatherings at St. Peter’s, like the Sunday Angelus prayer, entering the square requires passing through several security checks, including X-ray machines and metal detectors.

The Italian news media reported that snipers would be placed on rooftops during the proceedings, and specialized police units would patrol the Tiber River. Police forces were also stationed along the route from St. Peter’s to the Basilica of St. Marie Major, or Santa Maria Maggiore, where the pope will be buried after the funeral.

Here’s what to know.

Where can I watch the funeral?

The funeral will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern) in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.

The New York Times will stream the funeral as part of its live coverage on Saturday, and many U.S. television networks, including NBC, CBS, CNN and ABC, are planning to broadcast it as well. International broadcasters, such as the BBC in Britain, will also cover the funeral.

The funeral will also air on the Vatican’s news channel on YouTube, which has been streaming much of the rites.

Where can I watch the funeral internationally?

In Canada, major networks such as CBC Television and CTV across the country are expected to carry the service. In the United Kingdom, news networks including Sky News and the BBC are also expected to broadcast the funeral.

In Brazil, there is Globo News and CNN Brasil. And in Spain, viewers should be able to catch the service on Televisión Española with its news channel 24 Horas.

What will happen at the funeral?

The funeral of Pope Francis will follow a series of centuries-old rituals.

On Saturday, a public funeral Mass will be held in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals.

The funeral will be more modest than rites for past pontiffs: Pope Francis last year simplified the rules around papal funerals, with changes that include using only one wooden coffin instead of three.

After the Mass, Francis’ body will be interred in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where seven other popes are buried.

Francis wrote in his will that he wanted his “last earthly journey to end at this very ancient Marian shrine.” He requested a simple, undecorated tomb with only the inscription “Franciscus,” the Vatican said.

The churches of Rome will hold special Masses in memory of Francis for nine days after the funeral.

Who is expected to attend?

World leaders and Catholic worshipers from around the world will attend the funeral. Expected attendees include: President Trump, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, President Javier Milei of Argentina and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country.

Johnny Diaz contributed reporting.

Francis had openly criticized some world leaders, like Mr. Trump, and faced stinging criticism from others, like President Javier Milei of Argentina, who once dismissed his countryman, the first pope from Latin America, as a “filthy leftist.”

Francis’ funeral will be Mr. Trump’s first foreign trip in his second term, and his first time seeing many of his global peers since he began to shake the world order with steep tariffs, erratic policy swings and dramatic deportations.

Mr. Milei’s office said on Tuesday that he would attend the funeral of Francis, a proud Argentine seen by many as a national hero. A far-right libertarian, Mr. Milei and the pope appeared to smooth over some issues last year.

Here are some other leaders who plan to attend:

United States

Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Jill Biden

Mr. Biden, the United States’ second Roman Catholic president, will attend along with the former first lady, a spokeswoman said. Mr. Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis in January, praising him as “the People’s Pope.”

Britain

Keir Starmer, the prime minister, and Prince William, the heir to the throne

Prince William will attend on behalf of his father, King Charles III, Kensington Palace said in a statement on Tuesday. King Charles and Queen Camilla had met with Francis this month. Mr. Starmer, the head of the British government, described Francis’ leadership as “courageous” and noted his concern for “the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten” in a post on X.

Italy

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Ms. Meloni led tributes to Francis on Monday, praising him as “a great man and a great pastor.” She also visited him while he was in the hospital. “I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering,” she said.

Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky

A top aide to Mr. Zelensky told a Ukrainian news agency that the president planned to attend the funeral, potentially setting up his first interaction with President Trump since their tense Oval Office meeting in March. “He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity,” Mr. Zelensky wrote on X in tribute to Francis. “He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”

France

President Emmanuel Macron

Mr. Macron praised Francis for standing alongside “the most vulnerable and the most fragile,” and cut short a trip to the Indian Ocean region after the pope’s death.

Brazil

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country, is holding seven days of mourning for Francis. Mr. Lula remembered the pope for his smile and his faith in a brighter future in a post on X.

Poland

President Andrzej Duda

The president’s international affairs adviser confirmed that Mr. Duda and his wife would attend. “Throughout his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity,” Mr. Duda, who is Catholic and leads a deeply Catholic country, wrote in a tribute to Francis on X.

Other leaders

Austria: President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker

Belgium: King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Prime Minister Bart De Wever

European Commission: Ursula von der Leyen

Estonia: President Alar Karis

Germany: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Ireland: President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin

Latvia: President Edgars Rinkevics

Lithuania: President Gitanas Nauseda

Moldova: President Maia Sandu

Romania: Interim President Ilie Bolojan and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu

Slovakia: President Peter Pellegrini

Slovenia: President Natasa Pirc Musar

Spain: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

United Nations: Secretary General António Guterres

Diego Ribadeneira, Mark Landler and Tyler Pager contributed reporting.

1936

A Deeply Religious Boy

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. His parents were immigrants from Italy, and he was the eldest of five siblings. As a boy, he was intelligent, deeply religious and loved to dance the tango.

1952

Religious Calling

When he was 16, Jorge was rushing to meet friends but paused at the Basilica of St. Joseph in Buenos Aires, feeling an urge to go inside. In the sanctuary, it felt as though “someone grabbed me from inside,” he said, adding, “Right there I knew I had to be a priest.” He later joined a seminary.

1969

Ordination

After 13 years of study, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained as a priest.

1973

A Jesuit Leader

Father Bergoglio became the head of the Jesuits, an order of priests, in Argentina. At the time, the country was in the throes of a “dirty war,” when the ruling military junta tortured, killed or “disappeared” as many as 30,000 people. Father Bergoglio later faced accusations that he had done little to protect two priests with antigovernment views who were kidnapped and tortured by the regime. He has denied the claims, saying he protected priests and others by pressing military officials behind the scenes.

1979

Exile

Father Bergoglio’s tenure as head of the Jesuits ended in controversy, with critics accusing him of having an autocratic management style. Church authorities sent him into de facto exile in Frankfurt, Germany, and then to Córdoba, Argentina.

1992

A Surprise Turn to Bishop

Father Bergoglio’s exile was interrupted when he was unexpectedly named an auxiliary bishop of the Buenos Aires diocese. He became archbishop six years later, and focused on outreach to the poor. He was elevated to cardinal in 2001.

2013

The First Latin American Pope

Francis was elected pontiff after Pope Benedict XVI resigned, citing health concerns. Francis tried to move the church away from divisive issues such as abortion and homosexuality, instead focusing on climate change, poverty and migration. His first papal trip was to Lampedusa, an Italian island that had become a beacon for asylum seekers and migrants.

2014

Addressing Sex Abuse

Francis established a commission to address the church’s clerical sexual-abuse scandals. It included victims of abuse and sought to hold bishops accountable, but the effort eventually fell apart.

2014

U.S.-Cuba Agreement

The United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations for the first time in decades. Francis was credited with helping bridge the divide between President Barack Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba, leading to the historic breakthrough.

2015

A Call to Action on the Environment

Francis released “Laudato Si,” the first papal encyclical focused solely on the environment. It called for protecting the environment and denounced the excesses of global capitalism in exploiting the poor.

2015

Tending the U.S. Flock

During a six-day trip to the United States, Francis became the first pope to address Congress.

2016

Spat With Trump

Francis repeatedly sought to stand up to nationalism. During the U.S. presidential election, he suggested that Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate, was “not Christian” because of his preference for building walls rather than bridges. Mr. Trump responded: “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian.”

2017

Trip to Egypt

Francis sought closer relations with other religions, especially in places where Catholics were at risk of persecution. At a conference in Cairo, he denounced “demagogic forms of populism” and violence masquerading as piety.

2018

A Deal With China

Francis reached a provisional agreement with the Chinese government to end a decades-long power struggle over the right to appoint bishops in the country. The deal gave the church greater access to China, but also legitimized seven bishops appointed by Beijing, which critics said set a dangerous precedent.

2019

A Push to Protect Minors

Francis issued the church’s most comprehensive response in decades to the sexual abuse crisis. It obligated church officials worldwide to report cases of sexual abuse, and efforts to cover them up, to their superiors. But it did not require officials to report abuse to the police, an omission that enraged victims.

2019

The Amazon Summit

A meeting of bishops from the Amazon region recommended that Francis allow the ordination of married men as priests in remote areas of South America. He signaled an openness to the idea, but ultimately set aside the proposal.

2020

A Pandemic Blessing

On Good Friday, from a dark, deserted St. Peter’s Square, Francis delivered a blessing and called for solidarity around the world to confront the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, Italy was in lockdown amid a deadly wave of the virus.

2022

An Apology to Indigenous People

During a visit to Canada, Francis begged for forgiveness from the country’s Indigenous people for the “evil” inflicted upon them by Christians. He also apologized for the church’s role in running residential schools where Indigenous children were abused and many died.

2023

An Effort to Include Women

Francis for the first time held a meeting of world bishops that included women and lay people as voting members. The synod, as the meeting is known, broached some of the most sensitive topics in the church, including the role of women, celibacy and the marital status of priests, but it didn’t change those policies. After the meeting, Francis allowed priests to bless gay couples.

2025

Death and Legacy

Francis died on Monday at 7:35 a.m., less than a day after blessing the faithful who had gathered for an Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square. He appeared on a balcony on Sunday, looking frail, and after blessing the crowd, he deferred to a Vatican aide to address the crowd on his behalf.

Francis had wrestled serious health issues in the preceding months, including a severe respiratory infection that had sent him to the hospital for weeks.

He leaves a legacy of inclusion and activism, having often spoken in support of migrants, the marginalized and the environment.

Ali Watkins contributed reporting.