What to expect from the Novendiali, a 9-day period of prayer, mourning and remembrance

By Gabriele Regalbuto

Published April 26, 2025

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Pope Francis’ funeral was held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local Rome time (4:00 a.m. ET) and more than 200,000 people were expected to attend the deceased Vicar of Christ’s services.

Thousands of mourners took to the Vatican the week of Pope Francis' passing to pay their final respects to the pontiff.

The funeral Mass was held on the parvis of St. Peter’s Basilica, and His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Catholic rites and blessings.

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Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica for the last time before his death to bestow the Urbi et Orbi in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Pope Francis' funeral Mass marked the first day of the Novendiali, an ancient and customary nine-day period of prayer, remembrance and mourning.

What to expect from the Novendiali?

Pope Francis’ Holy Mass led by His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will commence the nine Masses in memory of the deceased pontiff.

While the Masses are open to public audiences, they are specifically held for employees and faithful of Vatican City.

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Cardinals arrive to pay their respects to the grave of the late Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, on Sunday, April 27. (AP/Bernat Armangue)

The schedule is as follows, according to the Vatican:

Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. local Rome time, 4:30 a.m. ET, on the parvis of the Vatican Basilica for the employees and faithful of Vatican City StateThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former Secretary of State
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former Secretary of State
Monday, April 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. local Rome time, 11:00 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Church of RomeThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Chapters of the Papal BasilicasThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican

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St. Peter's Basilica with mourners in front of it

People attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, at St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli (REUTERS/Remo Casilli)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Papal ChapelThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals
Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Roman CuriaThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
Friday, May, 2, 2025, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Eastern ChurchesThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, former prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, former prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic LifeThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Ángel Fernández Artime, former pro-prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Ángel Fernández Artime, former pro-prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life

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Pope Francis will be celebrated for a nine-day period of mourning known as the Novendiali. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Sunday, May 4, at 5 p.m. local Rome time, 11 a.m. ET, in the Vatican Basilica for the Papal ChapelThe funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals
The funeral liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals

What happened at Pope Francis' funeral mass?

Mass began with an Entrance Antiphon, typically sung or recited by clergy and mourners.

Then, the congregation acknowledged their sins with the Penitential Act followed by the Collect, or opening prayer.

Kielce Gussie, a reporter from the Vatican News, then extended the First Reading, a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, to the congregation of worshipers.

The Responsorial Psalm "The Lord is my Shepherd," or "Psalm 23," was sung. The Second Reading, a reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians, typically recited by an instituted lector at a pope’s funeral, was heard among parishioners.

Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images)

The Acclamation and the Gospel followed.

Cardinal Battista gave the Homily, a reflection, which includes prayer for Pope Francis, the faithful departed and the congregation. The dean of the Roman Catholic Church's College of Cardinals consecrated the Body and Blood of Christ and invited the faithful to receive Holy Communion following the Communion Rite, or the Our Father prayer.

Requiem Aeternam, a chant often heard among funeral-goers, was recited during Communion, followed by a prayer.

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Cardinal Battista offered a final Commendation and Farewell including the Prayer of the Church in Rome and the Prayer of Eastern Churches.

The funeral liturgy "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" was sung or chanted by the congregation, and Mass concluded with the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Francis will be buried in a wooden casket at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a place he often visited with flowers during his 12-year papacy.

Gabriele Regalbuto is a Senior Editor of SEO at Fox News Digital. Gabriele has a Journalism and Communications degree from West Virginia University. She has worked to produce content for newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms. At Fox, she has assisted in coverage of breaking news events including the 2024 presidential cycle, 2022 midterm elections, Queen Elizabeth II's death, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

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