Spectrum News will simulcast and stream the funeral of Pope Francis live Saturday morning from Vatican City, as Catholics around the world bid the late pontiff farewell.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday from a stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
The funeral will begin at 4 a.m. Eastern.
Our special coverage begins at 3:55 a.m. Eastern.
Coverage will air on Spectrum News’ networks and on Spectrum News+, available on the Spectrum News app on mobile, Xumo Stream Box, and Apple and Roku devices.
Pope Francis’ funeral will be held in St. Peter’s Square. The square is located outside of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Spectrum News’ Bree Driscoll and Josh Robin will co-anchor the coverage. National political reporter Kevin Frey will join from Washington, D.C.
Pope Francis simplified some of the papal funeral rituals last year, including eliminating a tradition of having three coffins made of cyprus, lead and oak.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral, the Vatican said. Religious leaders — including patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the globe – will concelebrate, or celebrate the Mass all together.
The Mass will include a celebration of the Eucharist — a central act of the Christian faith where bread and wine are shared with worshippers and the faithful believe these are converted into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis’ funeral will end with a final commendation and valediction, the concluding prayer and act of farewell.
Dozens of dignitaries are expected to attend. President Donald Trump said on social media that he and first lady Melania Trump will travel to Rome for the pope’s funeral.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Argentinian President Javier Milei are among many of the other world leaders who have confirmed their attendance.
There is no set time for the funeral to conclude. The length of previous papal funerals has varied, with that of Pope Benedict XVI lasting about 90 minutes and the funeral for Pope John Paul II was about three hours.
At the end of the Mass, the late pope's coffin will be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will be buried. Pope Francis will be the first pope buried outside of St. Peter's Basilica in more than 100 years.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who was chosen by Pope Francis to act as the camerlengo, or the official who oversees the Vatican after one pope dies and before another is chosen, will preside over a ceremony.
Pope Francis requested that his final resting place be between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the basilica. He also asked that his tomb be “simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”
Nine days of official mourning, called the “Novemdiales,” begins after the pope’s funeral — with a Mass held each day at St. Peter’s Basilica. The final Mass will be held Sunday, May 4, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti will preside over the service.
The College of Cardinals sets a date and time for the conclave, or process by which a new pope is elected, to begin.