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RTÉ has announced they will be broadcasting the funeral of Pope Francis.
Following his recent death, the funeral procession will be recorded by RTÉ. RTÉ will air live coverage on television, radio and online of the funeral of Pope Francis, which takes place this Saturday, 26 April 2025.
Beginning at 8.30am on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, David McCullagh and Sharon Ní Bheoláin will present a special programme featuring coverage of the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Áine Lawlor and Fr Michael Collins will provide commentary on the ceremony.
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On RTÉ Radio 1, special coverage of the funeral of the Pope will be presented by Dearbhail McDonald from 8.30am. Colm Ó Mongáin and Fr Thomas McCarthy will provide live radio commentary.
Detailed online news reporting, along with video and audio coverage, will be available on the RTÉ News App and RTÉ.ie.
The funeral is due to be attended by heads of state and international leaders including President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and An Tánaiste Simon Harris.
The RTÉ News channel will broadcast wider coverage of events from early morning. Following the end of the funeral, at 12.30pm, coverage of the Pope’s visit to Ireland will be aired until One O’Clock News.
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Pope Francis passed away during the early hours of Easter Monday at the age of 88, following a cerebral stroke that resulted in a coma and heart failure.
According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, his passing was unrelated to the respiratory illness, pneumonia, he was diagnosed with, which led to his hospitalisation over Valentine’s weekend this February.
Nine days of mourning have officially begun in the Vatican since Wednesday, lasting until 1st May
The body of Pope Francis was brought from the chapel in the late Pope’s residence, the Casa Santa Marta, and then to St Peter’s Basilica.
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The coffin has been laid in the Basilica for the public to view and pay their respects. Thousands of Christians have gathered from around the world to mourn the loss of the head of the Catholic Church and honour his legacy since the beginning of his papacy in 2013.
The funeral will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
In Ireland, plans for mourning are being put in place. Flags will be flown at half-mast over public buildings on Saturday, Jack Horgan-Jones reported to the Irish Times.
A new Pope will be elected during the Papal Conclave that will occur following his funeral, with local Cardinal Kevin Farrell from Dublin currently being the Camerlengo, an administrator role during the succession of a new Pope.
Words by Alyssa O’Sullivan