St Peter's Square closes to the public ahead of Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday

Thank you for following our posts today. Our teams in Rome (and Brussels) are signing off for the night.

As the sun sets over Rome, national leaders are still arriving in the Eternal City while regular citizens file out of St Peter's Square as Pope Francis’ casket is being sealed in a private ceremony.

Our live blog covering the pope’s funeral resumes early on Saturday morning at 7 am CEST. We hope you can join us tomorrow.

And of course, we’ll have all the latest updates throughout the day from our reporters in Rome and across Europe on our website and television channel.

According to the Vatican, more than 250,000 people have visited the Vatican to pay their respects to Pope Francis.

The lying in state ended at 7pm on Friday night after three days.

At 8pm, Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, along with the highest-ranking Vatican officials, will seal the casket ahead of Saturday’s funeral.

(People waiting in St. Peter's Square to pay their respects to Pope Francis)

Several heads of state and government have already landed in Rome and paid their respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday. 

Among the first to arrive was Irish President Michael D Higgins with his wife Sabina.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived on Friday afternoon and have already visited St Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis’ body is lying in state. 

The Argentinian President Javier Milei landed around 7pm local time, with a delegation of seven government’s officers.

US President Donald Trump is currently flying from the United States aboard Air Force One. He is expected to arrive at around 11pm.

Also Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden will attend the funeral, according to a spokesperson.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he may miss Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday due to important "military meetings".

"If I am not (there) in time, Ukraine will be represented at a proper level. The foreign minister and the first lady will be there. As for me, it was important for me to be here. There are several military meetings in Ukraine today," Zelenskyy said as he visited the site of a Russian strike on the capital Kyiv.

(Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a private audience with Pope Francis at The Vatican, in 2024)

The Vatican has released the final list of attendees for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, which includes monarchs, heads of state, prime ministers, ambassadors, as well as representatives from 146 countries and 10 international organisations.

A total of 110 countries will be represented by heads of state, prime ministers, government officials, ambassadors and high-ranking dignitaries.

Top European Union officials will be in attendance, as well as representatives of international organisations such as the United Nations and the WHO.

Some of the attendees are members of royal families from 12 countries, including the king and queen of Spain, Prince William of the United Kingdom, and royal couples from Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Jordan.

After the funeral at St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis will make his final journey through Rome, in a solemn funeral procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, crossing the Tiber River and entering Italy from the Vatican.

But why is the pope's coffin not placed in St Peter's Basilica, or at least beneath it, like most of his recent predecessors?

Not all the other 265 pontiffs have been in the biggest Catholic church in the world, which was built in the 17th century. But almost all of them rest in the small territory of the Vatican State, including the first pope, Saint Peter.

Hundreds of popes are indeed buried between St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican grottoes located beneath its surface and another even deeper necropolis.

But Pope Francis decided otherwise. "He chose a humble tomb, just like his life and his Pontificate”, stated Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, during a press conference on Friday.

“It was the Virgin Mary who pointed out the place of his tomb to the pope,” the cardinal recounted. “When I suggested this location for his burial, he thought about it and then told me: ‘Luckily, the Virgin (Mary) hasn’t forgotten me.’”

(Pope John Paul II praying in the crypt containing the sarcophagus of Pope John XXIII, in the grottos beneath St. Peter's Basilica)

St Peter's Square was closed to the public, and from this point no more people will be allowed to enter in order to mourn the late pontiff.

Until 7 pm CEST, however, those already queuing in the Vatican's square can pay homage to Pope Francis.

According to the reports from Italian public broadcaster RAI, already 150,000 people have done so so far, while around 200,000 people are expected to participate in the funeral outside of St Peter's Basilica on Saturday morning.

(People line up to enter St. Peter's Square at the Vatican)

Speaking to reporters before boarding a helicopter to Air Force One, US President Donald Trump said, “We’re going to Rome to pay our respects and we’ll be leaving that same day.”

He repeated his predictions that he’ll be meeting with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the funeral. But what that might entail precisely remains unclear.

However, Trump did suggest that a meeting with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was possible. “It’s going to be very interesting,” he said,

Trump is leading a high-profile US delegation to the Vatican that includes National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and her deputies Beau Harrison, Nick Luna, Stephen Miller and Dan Scavino. Also aboard: Communications Director Steven Cheung, First Lady’s Chief of Staff Hayley Harrison and senior advisor Natalie Harp.

Trump said he met Pope Francis twice and that the pope “loved the world, actually, and he was just a good man.” “I thought he was a fantastic kind of a guy,” Trump said.

French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the most prominent heads of state attending Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, but he will not meet any other national leaders alongside the ceremony.

"During this time of mourning and reflection for all the faithful and for the entire world, the President of the Republic will not hold any diplomatic meetings on the margins of the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis," sources from the Élysée Palace said on the eve of Macron’s trip to Rome.

While all eyes are on US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who publicly beefed earlier this year — the French leader has recently become one of the strongest critics of US foreign policy under Trump.

The most powerful political leaders in the world are gathering on Saturday to pay their respects to Pope Francis, but it will be those belonging to the most vulnerable groups in the world who will be chosen to give him the final farewell.

As reported by Vatican News, the official media outlet of the Holy See, a group of people in need will be on the steps of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major before the burial of the coffin.

Around 40 people, including migrants, transgender people, prisoners from a jail in Rome, the homeless and the poor, are meant to say goodbye to the pope, each holding a white rose in their hand.

"The poor have a privileged place in God's heart (...) and also in the heart and in the teachings of the Holy Father, who chose the name Francis in order to never forget them."

(Pope Francis while washing the foot of prisoners at Rebibbia prison in Rome, in 2015)

It’s not just world leaders gathering in Rome this weekend. Cardinals from around the globe are also making their way to the Vatican ahead of the upcoming conclave to elect the next pope.

Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the Catholic Church, but only 135 are eligible to vote in the conclave, having not yet reached the age of 80. The other 117 will be excluded from the voting process. Among those just making the cut is Cardinal Robert Sarah, considered one of the frontrunners (or papabili). He turns 80 just over a month after the conclave is set to begin, allowing him to participate.

Cardinals are appointed by the pope to assist in the governance of the Church, and during a papal transition, housing them all becomes a logistical challenge. Traditionally, they stay at the Santa Marta House, within Vatican City, which Pope Francis had chosen as his residence. The guesthouse was originally set up by Pope John Paul II for precisely this purpose.

However, with only 134 beds — and some now inaccessible due to protocol following Pope Francis’ death — the Santa Marta House is now 14 beds short. Vatican staff are working to finalise lodging arrangements, with overflow accommodation likely to include nearby clergy residences such as the Casa Romana del Clero near Castel Sant’Angelo and the Residenza Internazionale Paolo VI across the river on Via della Scrofa.

For now, many cardinals are staying across the city, often grouped by country. The Americans are housed at the Pontifical North American College on the Janiculum Hill, for instance, with sweeping views of St Peter’s Basilica. The French are based at the Pontifical French Seminary near the Pantheon, and the Spanish at the more distant Pontifical Spanish College on Via di Torre Rossa.

The Catholic Church's protocol is quite strict, and the dress code for its head is no exception. Vatican's rules have been reported by Italian press in great detail.

For men, a dark suit with a long black tie and white shirt is mandatory. Technically speaking, dark colours like grey or blue are allowed for men's suits, but it is unlikely that anyone attending the funeral will wear anything other than black.

Shoes, long socks, any overcoat, and an umbrella must also be black. On the left lapel, a black button is permitted. The only allowed alternative is papal honours, which could be displayed on the jackets, where no other adornment will be possible. Male accessories such as rings, bracelets, and watches must be "discreet".

Women are required to wear a black dress or suit. If a woman chooses the first option, it is long enough to reach below the knee. Shoes must be black and closed-toe, with low heels, while sheer black tights are recommended to be displayed below dresses, as well as black gloves.

Women could also wear a black veil to cover the head, which is, however, not mandatory. The handbag must be black and small, and the only jewellery allowed is a single strand of pearls.

The so-called “privilege of white” is also suspended. Normally, the queens and princesses from Catholic royal families are only allowed to meet the pope in the Vatican wearing a white dress, while all others are forced to wear black.

But this privilege does not include funeral ceremonies.

(Leticia of Spain, wife of King Felipe VI wearing white during a visit in Vatican)

Following the funeral at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis will make his final journey through the Eternal City in a solemn funeral procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The funeral procession is expected to depart around 12:30 local time, tracing a route of more than five kilometers that winds through some of the most iconic streets and landmarks of Rome.

From St. Peter’s Basilica, the procession will move through the Pasa tunnel, cross the Tiber River via Ponte Principe Amedeo di Savoia Aosta, and continue along the historic Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.

It will then pass through Piazza Venezia, home to the Altare della Patria, and proceed along the Fori Imperiali, flanked by the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire. After passing the Colosseum, the cortege will continue along Via Labicana and Via Merulana before reaching its final stop at Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the city’s four major papal basilicas.

Numerous road closures and traffic restrictions have been implemented along the route for safety and security reasons. Crowds are expected to line the streets to bid farewell to the late pontiff.

The search for a new "passage to the East" for evangelisation has been one of the great axes of Pope Francis' pontificate. Many observers even consider it the late pope's core political mission.

With the conclave to choose his successor looking less Eurocentric than ever, Pope Francis' intense pastoral and diplomatic activity to build a bridge with Asia is set to continue.

Euronews’ Sergio Cantone has more.

How China will influence the next pontiff after Pope Francis’ pivot to

With the conclave to choose his successor looking less Eurocentric than ever, Pope Francis’ intense pastoral and diplomatic activity to build a bridge……

From tariffs to Ukraine, there’s no shortage of global issues that could spark impromptu discussions among leaders attending Pope Francis’s funeral.

As heads of state gather in Rome, the solemn occasion remains, at least officially, free of politics. For now.

Even the briefest exchange, particularly involving US President Donald Trump, could carry significant geopolitical weight.

At today’s midday briefing, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed there are “no bilateral meetings foreseen at this moment in time with any other leader,” including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. That leaves speculation swirling about informal encounters.

British media, citing sources close to Downing Street, have reported the possibility of a short, unannounced meeting between Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, potentially focused on Ukraine. So far, it has not appeared on either side’s official agenda.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has openly expressed a desire to meet with Trump while in the Vatican, though no meeting has been confirmed.

Some officials are voicing concern over any political talks taking place tomorrow. “I don't think this is the day for political meetings, to talk about tariffs and other things. I think it would be disrespectful to the Holy Father on the day of his funeral,” said Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani when asked about potential bilaterals.

As the late pontiff's funeral becomes a quiet stage for diplomatic signals, every presence (or absence) speaks volumes.

Russia and Israel will both be represented at the funeral of Pope Francis, though notably not by their top leaders, as President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are not attending.

Putin's absence is likely tied to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him, while Netanyahu’s decision reflects the deteriorating relations between Israel and the Vatican amid ongoing tensions over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Instead, Russia will send its Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, and Israel will be represented by Yaron Zeidman, the ambassador to the Holy See.

Meanwhile, China's presence remains a question mark. Asked by Reuters whether Beijing would send a representative, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun simply said: “No information to share at the moment.”

China also offered only a brief official condolence nearly 24 hours after the pope’s death, and only after being pressed by journalists.

Nevertheless, a prayer in Chinese will be included during the funeral—a nod to Pope Francis’ long-standing efforts to build bridges with the atheist government in Beijing, despite decades of strained ties.

The Holy See has not had formal diplomatic relations with China since 1951 and is the only European state to officially recognise Taiwan.

Significant security measures have been put in place in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral.

According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, around 11.000 law enforcement units will be deployed to guarantee the ceremony's safety, including 1.500 military personnel from the Italian army, 2.500 Italian police officers and carabinieri, 1.000 members of Italian intelligence services and around 500 security officers escorting the delegations, plus 2,000 municipal police officers managing traffic and enforcing road closures during the motorcades.

At least five anti-drone systems will be involved to enforce the “no-fly zone,” with bazookas capable of intercepting drones, while several helicopters are expected to be constantly in flight above the Italian capital.

The Vatican will be sealed off, and five red zones are foreseen around it, with pedestrian access points and metal detectors. Special teams of Italian police will also be present underground, patrolling subway stations and tunnels.

Finally, a warship from the Italian Navy will remain anchored at Fiumicino, close to the mouth of the river Tiber. It is equipped with anti-missile systems and rapid interception capabilities, and its radar will cover the entire city. A squadron of Eurofighter jets will be ready to take off from the nearby air bases of Grosseto and Pratica di Mare for any contingency.

On top of this massive deployment, the national security services for the heads of state and governments attending the ceremony will also participate in securing the event.

Maria Michela d'Alessandro has more.

All eyes will be on Donald Trump as he makes his brief but highly anticipated visit to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. Though many leaders will be hoping for a moment with the US president, time will be tight as his visit will last just over 15 hours.

According to the White House schedule released overnight, Trump has no official bilateral meetings planned. He and First Lady Melania Trump — who turns 55 tomorrow — will depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 8:50 am Washington time (2.50 pm Central European Time), with their arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport expected around 10:50 pm CEST.

From there, the motorcade will head to Villa Taverna, the official residence of the US ambassador in Rome, where the couple will spend the night.

Tomorrow morning, the Trumps are scheduled to arrive at St. Peter’s Basilica around 9:30 am for the funeral, which begins at 10 am. Following the ceremony, they will leave the Vatican at 12:50 pm and head back to Fiumicino to board Air Force One at 1:30 pm.

Their next stop? Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in New Jersey, where they are expected to land at 5:40 pm local time.

While tomorrow’s funeral for Pope Francis will be solemn and understated, the presence of 170 international delegations has turned seating arrangements into a delicate diplomatic puzzle.

With global tensions running high and world leaders arrive en masse to pay their respects, Pope Francis’ funeral is shaping up to be one of the most significant international gatherings of the year.

Vatican officials are facing a complicated diplomatic chessboard, Euronews correspondent Isidoro Patalano reports.

To avoid diplomatic incidents, most leaders will be seated not by rank or prominence, but in alphabetical order - according to the French language.

This means that US President Donald Trump (États-Unis in French) won’t be seated next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but rather between the representatives from Eswatini and Ethiopia. Not far off will be French President Emmanuel Macron, a vocal critic of Trump in recent months.

Had the Vatican used Italian alphabetical order, Trump and Zelenskyy might have ended up side by side — a potentially awkward pairing given the current state of US–Ukraine relations. Still, it could be seen as a missed opportunity for dialogue as well: Zelenskyy had reportedly expressed openness to a meeting with Trump on the sidelines.

There are a few exceptions to the seating system. Representatives from Italy and Argentina — Pope Francis’ homeland — will be seated in the front row, in recognition of their close ties to the late pontiff.

Trump and Zelenskyy apart at pope’s funeral by French seating order

The pope’s funeral will be held in a tense geopolitical climate, and Vatican officials are facing a complicated diplomatic chessboard. #EuropeNews…

Crowds are continuing to pour into St Peter’s Square today to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, whose body lies in state for the last day inside St Peter’s Basilica.

According to the Vatican Press Office, some 128,000 people have visited the Basilica since Wednesday, when the pope’s coffin was placed for public viewing. The overwhelming turnout prompted extended opening hours late into the night on both Wednesday and Thursday to accommodate the faithful.

The line to view the pope stretches well beyond Via della Conciliazione — the grand avenue leading to the square — and has reached up to 2 kilometres in length. Visitors are facing wait times of three to four hours before reaching the Basilica.

Meanwhile, others have begun gathering at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis will be laid to rest. Rosary prayers have already been held there, and a banner saying "Grazie Francesco" (Thank you, Francis) has been placed on a nearby building in tribute.

Today is also Liberation Day in Italy — one of the country’s most significant and symbolic public holidays.

Marking the anniversary of the liberation from fascism and Nazi Germany's occupation on 25 April 1945, it’s a moment of remembrance, but also, even 80 years later, a source of political division.

The holiday honours the Resistance, a diverse anti-fascist movement that included communists, socialists, Catholics, liberals and monarchists. Its strong left-wing legacy has long made it a point of contention for some parties on the right.

Several figures in the ruling Fratelli d’Italia or Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have expressed discomfort with the holiday in the past. However, Meloni has recently attempted to strike a more conciliatory tone.

Speaking on Friday, she said: "Today we renew our commitment so that this anniversary may increasingly become a moment of national concord, in the name of freedom and democracy, against all forms of totalitarianism, authoritarianism, and political violence."

In Rome, the main state ceremony took place this morning at the Altare della Patria, where President Sergio Mattarella and top officials laid a laurel wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honour the fallen.

This year’s celebrations are notably more subdued due to the period of national mourning declared after the death of Pope Francis. Events are proceeding, but in a more reflective and solemn atmosphere.

If you’ve planned a spring getaway to Rome after the Easter holidays (coinciding with Italy’s Liberation Day today and Labour Day on 1 May), you might be in for a few complications.

While spring is always a beautiful time to visit the Eternal City, travellers should be prepared for closures, restricted access, and large crowds at some of Rome’s top attractions, as our Euronews Travel journalist, Rebecca Ann Hughes reports.

Most notably, the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from 28 April while it hosts the secretive conclave to elect the new pope, a process that will keep the chapel off-limits for at least a week.

The iconic space, featuring Michelangelo’s famed ceiling and Last Judgement fresco, as well as works by Botticelli, Pinturicchio and Rosselli, will also be under strict surveillance to ensure the integrity of the vote.

The exact start date of the conclave is still unknown. It depends on when all cardinal electors have arrived in Rome, but Vatican protocol dictates it must begin within 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s death — meaning it will start no later than 10 May, though it could be earlier.

What to expect if you’re visiting Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis

Travellers to Rome should expect closures, visitor restrictions and crowds at some of the city’s main attractions.…

Friday marks the final day Pope Francis’ body will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica, as thousands of faithful continue to file past to pay their respects.

According to the Vatican press office, more than 128,000 people have visited the pope’s body so far, with lines stretching into the early hours of the morning and resuming again at dawn today.

The coffin will be closed this evening at around 8 pm during a solemn rite led by Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell (here you can read more about his important role as acting head of the Vatican until the next pope is elected).

This ceremony will conclude the public viewings ahead of the funeral on Saturday, which will begin in St Peter’s Square. Following the service, the funeral procession will move through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the late pontiff will be laid to rest.

Some world leaders are already arriving to pay their respects. Among them are Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, who will visit today and return tomorrow to St. Peter Square for the funeral ceremony.

Good morning and welcome to this special liveblog as we follow the last farewells and funeral preparations for Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88.

Over 100 delegations from around the world are expected to arrive in Rome to pay their respects to the late pontiff, with official tributes beginning today ahead of the funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.

Among those expected in Rome are top European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

All eyes will also be on US President Donald Trump, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

So far, 130 official presences have been confirmed, including 10 royals, 50 heads of state, and numerous prime ministers, ministers and ambassadors.

Stay with us for live updates from our reporters in Rome and all across Europe, here on Euronews.