9 days of mourning for Pope Francis have begun: The full schedule of the Novemdiales
Almost a week after Pope Francis’ death, his funeral on Saturday will begin a process of mourning that transitions into the conclave to select a new pontiff.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners have already lined up to pay their respects and bid farewell to Pope Francis ahead of the funeral on Saturday morning, April 26.
The death of a pope is solemnly observed in a nine-day mourning period known as the Novemdiales, along with time-honored rituals from certification of death to burial. Francis wanted his burial ritual simplified, with less opulence, in keeping with his view that the church should serve the poor.
Here is what you need to know about the Novemdiales, as well as its schedule.
What are the Novemdiales?
The Novemdiales are a nine-day mourning period in which nine masses are held for the late pope.
“While these Eucharistic celebrations are open to everyone, each day a different group is scheduled to participate − based on their connection with the Holy Father,” Vatican News said. “This diversity of groups reflects both ‘the scope of the Supreme Pastor’s ministry and the universality of the Church of Rome.’”
The first day of the Novemdiales is marked by Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday. The mass will be held in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET).
What is the Novemdiales schedule?
The Novemdiales schedule for days two through nine, provided by the Vatican News, is the following, with all times in local time:
- Second day: Sunday, April 27, 10:30 a.m., held in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Pietro Parolin presides. Group: employees, faithful of Vatican City.
- Third day: Monday, April 28, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, presides. Group: Church of Rome.
- Fourth day: Tuesday, April 29, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, presides. Group: The Chapters of the Papal Basilicas.
- Fifth day: Wednesday, April 30, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Leonard Dandri, Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, presides. Group: the Papal Chapel.
- Sixth day: Thursday, May 1, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presides. Group: Roman Curia.
- Seventh day: Friday, May 2, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. Group: Eastern Churches.
- Eighth day: Saturday, May 3, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Pro-Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presiding. Group: Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
- Ninth day: Sunday, May 4, 5 p.m., held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, presiding. Group: Papal Chapel group.
After the Novemdiales are done, the College of Cardinals will meet in what is known as the Conclave and will select a new Pope.
Contributing: George Petras and Janet Loehrke, Paste BN
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.