VATICAN CITY—The world is preparing to bid farewell to Pope Francis, with a live broadcast of his funeral set for Saturday, April 26. This significant event will be held in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a solemn procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be laid to rest in accordance with his wishes.
The Requiem Mass, beginning at 10:00 AM local time, echoes the momentous occasion of Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, drawing parallels to the global attention that moment captured. Vatican News will provide extensive coverage, marking a historic first: the live global transmission of a Pope’s body being taken from the Vatican to its final resting place.
In an effort to reach a diverse international audience, the broadcast will be available in 15 languages, including English, Spanish, and Arabic. Notable enhancements will feature four sign languages—American Sign Language, Italian, Spanish, and French—to ensure accessibility for the hearing impaired.
The Vatican Television Center will deliver comprehensive visual coverage, with aerial views and ground shots of the procession route, allowing viewers to experience the event as it unfolds. Alongside this, multimedia reporting across various platforms will be provided in 56 languages, further expanding the reach of the coverage.
For those seeking to follow along, the Vatican News website will serve as a central hub for video and audio streaming. Multiple platforms, including YouTube and social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, will also host live updates in several major languages.
Additionally, the Italian-language broadcast will have dedicated commentary teams positioned at key locations around St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, starting their coverage as early as 8:10 AM. Local FM frequencies and digital channels will ensure that listeners in Rome and the surrounding areas have direct access to the broadcast.
This unprecedented coverage not only honors Pope Francis’s contributions to the Catholic Church but also highlights the evolving nature of media in capturing significant historical moments. As the world tunes in, many will reflect on the profound legacy left by Pope Francis, whose teachings and leadership have influenced millions globally.