Pope Francis funeral: pontiff to be laid to rest in simplified ceremony – latest updates

Funeral to begin at 10am local time in St Peter’s Square and will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista RePope Francis chose to break with the traditions surrounding papal funerals in April last year when he approved a set of simplified rules that allow a pope to be “laid out and buried like any son or daughter of the church”, without the use of an elevated bier topped with cushions. Or, as Francis himself put it:With dignity, but not on cushions. In my opinion, the ritual was too ornate.10am: The funeral mass will begin and will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals.As confirmed by Francis in his final testament, he will be buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood, breaking with longstanding Vatican tradition. Continue reading...