Farewell to Pope Francis: Live broadcast of the funeral service!

Farewell to Pope Francis: Live broadcast of the funeral service!

Petersplatz, Rom, Italien - On April 26, 2025, Pope Francis will be buried after he died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The funeral service, which begins on St. Peter's Square on the same day at 10:00 a.m., is broadcast live on television. Thousands of journalists gathered in Rome to report on the funeral of the popular Pope. By Thursday afternoon, around 61,000 people have already said goodbye to him in St. Peter's Basilica. The coffin is then brought to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The funeral must take place between four and six days after death, according to the Vatican regulation, so that the celebrations were planned accordingly. In order to meet the many mourners, the German TV channels take special measures. Phoenix reports from 8:45 a.m. until around 3:00 p.m. and takes over the transfer of the funeral service, which is designed by the ARD.

comprehensive TV reporting

The first is broadcast the funeral ceremony live between 9:50 a.m. and around 1:00 p.m. Andreas Bachmann and Tilmann Kleinjung are moderators, while Elisabeth Möst and Erwin Albrecht act as commentators. The ZDF is planning a "ZDF Special: Farewell to Pope Francis - Support in Rome" under the direction of Andreas Klinner. Jürgen Erbacher from the ZDF editorial team of religion and life is responsible for reporting.

Furthermore, RTL and NTV will begin with a special program under the title "Farewell to Pope Francis" at 9:30 a.m. The live moderation is taken over from Roberta Bieling and Verena Fels from Cologne, while Ingo Brüggenjürgen is invited as a guest. The "world" will also report from 9:30 a.m. A live stream can also be followed on YouTube via "Vatican News" to enable global encouragement.

traditions of the Papstrauer

The grief for a deceased Pope has an important historical tradition in the Roman Catholic Church, which can also be observed in this case. The liturgical celebrations, known as exequias, contain prayers and trade fairs that take place before the funeral. These traditions not only promote the sense of community among the believers worldwide, but also reflect cultural and religious practices of the Church. Mourning times and special prayer events are important elements that testify to respect for the deceased.

media reporting plays an important role in this process, because live broadcasts enable people who mourn the ceremonies to take part in the celebrations worldwide. Symbols such as flags on half mast and special crosses underline the collective grief. In addition, the move of the coffin enables believers to show their sympathy and to feel connected to the late Pope.

The funeral of Pope Francis, who is visited by numerous dignitaries and pilgrims, is not only a farewell to an important religious leader, but also a moment of the association for the Catholic community worldwide.