When is the pope’s funeral? Timings and how to watch it on TV in the UK

The late Pope Francis’ funeral is set to be a historic event, with hundreds of thousands of mourners descending onto the Vatican to pay their respects for ‘the people’s pope’ this Saturday. If you’re not one of those people but still want to see the events unfold, you can watch everything in real time live on TV and streaming online. Read on for all the information you need to watch the day’s events.

When is the pope’s funeral?

The Vatican have confirmed that Pope Francis’ funeral mass will take place on Saturday 26 April, at 10 AM (9AM BST) in St. Peter’s Square. This marks the start of nine days of mourning known as Novemdiales, a tradition of mourning and masses “for the repose of the late Pope’s soul”.

The 2½-hour service is mostly held in Latin. After the funeral, Pope Francis’ coffin will be transferred to the Basilica of St Mary Major, a church lying outside the Vatican’s walls which the pope had a “very strong connection” to. He’ll be the first pope to be buried there since the 1600s, and the first in over 100 years to be buried outside the Vatican.

It’s not the only tradition he’s modernised. Previous popes would have three coffins — one made of wood, another of lead and a third, again of wood. But in 2024, Pope Francis simplified the rules for a papal funeral, to use only a wooden coffin lined in zinc.

Will the pope’s funeral be televised?

Yes, heavily. You can catch the events unfold live on TV and online. The Vatican’s website and YouTube channel have been streaming the week’s events already. For those wanting to watch on TV, go to Sky News or the BBC.

What time is the pope’s funeral on TV?

BBC One will have a programme showing the funeral between 8.30am and 12.30pm, presented by Reeta Chakrabarti. This cuts into the slot which normally runs BBC Breakfast. Sky have yet to confirm their specific coverage.