How to watch Pope Francis's funeral in the UK and what time is it?

The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, following his death on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff died of a stroke and heart failure at his residence, the Casa Santa Marta, after months of declining health, including a recent diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 when he became the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. Serving just over 12 years as pontiff, he was widely recognised for his humility, progressive tone, and advocacy for the poor and marginalised.

The funeral will take place at 9am BST on Saturday morning in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

The service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, with cardinals, bishops, and priests from across the globe in attendance.

In accordance with Pope Francis’s wishes, the ceremony will be simpler than those of his predecessors.

He will be laid to rest in a single wooden coffin in a modest tomb at the Basilica of St Mary Major, marked only with the inscription “Franciscus.”

A nine-day period of mourning will begin at the conclusion of the funeral.

Television:

Live coverage of the funeral will be broadcast by major UK news channels including BBC News and Sky News. Timings will align with the start of the service at 9am BST.

Streaming:

The Vatican will also stream the service live on its official website and YouTube channel, allowing people around the world to follow the proceedings in real time.

A number of global leaders and dignitaries are expected at the service, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, and Prince William, who will represent the British Royal Family.