With the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, the universal Church begins a nine day period of mourning (the Novemdiales).
The Funeral Mass and Burial of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday 26 April at 10.00am Rome time (9.00am UK time). Parishes are encouraged to hold a Prayer Vigil the evening before (Friday 25 April). A rite for this Vigil is to be found in the Order of Christian Funerals p.39ff.
A Mass for the Dead (a Requiem Mass) may be celebrated on receiving news of a death, as we have just done, even in these days of the Easter Octave (cf. GIRM n.381).
The Mass prayers for the death of a Pope are to be found on pp.1465-67 of the Roman Missal (2010). Three sets of prayers are offered. The Collects could well be offered to the people as prayers to be said daily during this time of mourning.
The prayer for the Pope in the Eucharistic Prayers is omitted until a new Pope is elected. But it would be appropriate to remember Francis before God in the various commemorations of the dead in the different Eucharistic Prayers.
Traditionally, red vestments are worn at Masses for the Dead offered for a Pope as the successor of the Apostle Peter.
The Archdiocese of Westminster has put out guidance and resources prepared by the Liturgy Office of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
More will be added to this page in the coming days.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Cardinal Camerlengo, announces the death of Pope Francis. Watch on YouTube here
The Vatican has posted film of Pope Francis lying in his coffin in the Chapel of Casa Santa Martha (Pope Francis’ residence for the past 12 years). Watch on YouTube here
The Tablet has released video of a press conference at which Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe op gave their reactions to news of the Pope’s death. Watch on YouTube here
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has made available some resources for parishes here.