Pope Francis funeral latest: Watch as tens of thousands of mourners view Pontiff’s open casket at St Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican has said it may extend visits to see Pope Francis’ body until beyond midnight due to the ‘high flow’ of pilgrims.

It has not yet specified which days the potential extension applies to.

Pope Francis’ funeral will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the official liturgical guide for papal funerals, first published in 2000 and revised by Francis just last year.

According to Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of apostolic ceremonies, Francis aimed to “simplify and adapt” the rites so that the papal funeral is “that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful person in this world”.

Wales’ final Six Nations match against Italy has been postponed because of Pope Francis’ funeral.

They were due to play in Parma on Saturday but they will now play on Sunday at 11.30am UK time.

Reports suggest Israeli embassies were ordered not to lower their flags to half-mast.

It comes after an Israeli government social media post offering condolences was posted then swiftly deleted.

The Jerusalem Post cited foreign ministry officials as saying the Pope had made “statements against Israel” and that the post was published in “error”.

The Independent has contacted the Israeli embassy in London and Israel’s Foreign Ministry for comment but has not yet received a response.

23 April: Pope Francis’ coffin was transferred to St Peter’s Basilica to lie in state for three days of public viewing.

25 April: A ceremony closing the coffin will take place in the evening.

26 April: The funeral service and a nine-day mourning period will begin.

6 May 2025: The earliest date the papal conclave can begin, where cardinals vote on the next pope.

With Pope Francis’ death on Monday, the spotlight now shifts to the 134 cardinals under the age of 80 who will vote in the conclave to choose his successor.

The majority of the eligible cardinals were appointed by Francis, setting the stage for a successor who may follow his progressive, pastoral path.

The 88-year-old pontiff will be laid to rest Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, with a public funeral expected to draw world leaders and tens of thousands of mourners.

As the Catholic Church enters the “sede vacante”, Cardinal Kevin Farrell is overseeing the Holy See’s administrative and financial duties in the absence of a pope.

Cardinal Farrell was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin. He became an ordained priest in 1978, serving for almost 40 years before Francis made him a cardinal in 2016.

He is the Camerlengo of the Church, meaning that he is in charge while the conclave takes place.