LIVE BLOG: Pope Francis' funeral (April 26, 2025)

Pope Francis, who has been pontiff from 2013 until his death on Easter Monday, April 21, will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) in Rome, Italy.

The pontiff chose this basilica as his final resting place as this was where he would pray before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome.

The basilica, one of the main four churches of Christendom in Rome, is in Esquiline, one of the seven hills of Rome and is outside Vatican City.

In Ancient Rome, the Esquiline was used for the burial of slaves, the poor and those condemned to death. Nowadays, it is home to the Stazione Termini, Rome's main railway station, and is a multi-ethnic, populous neighborhood where many film directors and actors have settled, according to a Reuters report.

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest.

His coffin was sealed in a private ceremony at the Vatican on Friday night (early Saturday morning in the Philippines) in preparation for the funeral

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday morning at St Peter's Square, then the funeral cortege will proceed to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is among the world leaders who will attend Pope Francis' funeral.

Below are the latest updates on the funeral of Pope Francis.

Refresh this page for updates. —KG, GMA Integrated News