How To Watch Pope Francis’ Funeral If You’re Just Waking Up

This weekend marked another significant moment in the wake of Pope Francis’ death. Millions around the world paid their respects during his funeral, which took place on Saturday, April 26. If you’re waking up in the U.S., here’s how you can watch the ceremony and coverage as it continues throughout the day.

Pope Francis’ funeral was held in St. Peter’s Square, in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Ahead of the ceremony, photos released by the Vatican showed the Pope lying in state at his residence, Casa Santa Marta. His body was then moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, where it remained until the funeral on April 26.

ForbesPope Francis’ Funeral Set For Saturday—Here’s What To KnowBy Siladitya Ray

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, led Saturday’s funeral Mass. Foreign delegations from 164 countries were also in attendance, including President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and French President Emmanuel Macron. The Vatican updated the number of attendees from 200,000 to 250,000, according to NBC News.

Pope Francis’ body was then taken to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment, rather than the traditional crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, where many of his predecessors are laid to rest. He chose a simple funeral and burial, becoming the first Pontiff in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

What Time Did The Pope’s Funeral Start?

Pope Francis’ funeral began around 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT) on Saturday, April 26.

How To Watch The Pope’s Funeral On Cable

Major news outlets such as NBC, CNN, ABC, and CBS will broadcast the funeral live and provide coverage throughout the day. If you don’t have cable, you can stream the event through live TV services that carry major news channels, such as DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV — all of which are offering free trials.

How To Watch The Pope’s Funeral On Streaming

Pope Francis’ funeral will also be streaming on The New York Times, The Associated Press, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock as well as the Vatican News YouTube channel.

How Did Pope Francis Die?

Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. According to the Vatican, his death was caused by a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. The Pope had been dealing with serious health issues and was hospitalized for 38 days in February and March with bilateral pneumonia and bronchitis.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement shared by the Vatican on Monday. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized.”

Less than 24 hours before his death, the Pontiff made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting crowds in St. Peter’s Square and riding through in his popemobile. Vice President JD Vance also visited the Pope on Sunday, making him one of the last officials to meet with Francis.

What Happens After The Pope’s Funeral?

After Pope Francis’ funeral, the process of selecting his successor, known as the Conclave, will begin. According to The New York Times, the Conclave typically starts 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death, though it may begin sooner if all voting cardinals are present in Rome. Out of 252 cardinals, only 135 are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote.

During this highly secretive process, recently dramatized in the 2024 Oscar-winning film Conclave, the cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

Twice a day, smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the outcome of each vote: black smoke means no decision has been made, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been elected.

ForbesIs ‘Conclave’ Accurate? How The Movie Compares To The Real Election After Pope Francis’ DeathBy Monica Mercuri