DILI, 25 April 2025 (TATOLI) – After arriving in Rome on Thursday, 24 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas and the delegation accompanied by the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Vatican, Cloe Tilman Dindo, continued to pay homage to the mortal body of His Holiness, Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I arrived in Rome and fulfilled my duty to represent the Government of Timor-Leste by paying homage to His Holiness, Pope Francis, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, with the team from the Embassy of Timor-Leste to the Holy See,” said Minister Bendito Freitas.
The body of Pope Francis rests in the simple coffin made of wood and zinc, chosen by the Supreme Pontiff Francis as a symbol of humility that completed 12 years of his pontificate.
The body of Pope Francis has been transferred from his residence, Casa Santa Marta, to St. Peter’s Basilica to be united with the mortal remains of the Supreme Pontiffs, so that Christians can pay homage before the funeral Mass scheduled for Saturday, April 26.
Twenty thousand people will receive the body of Pope Francis, saluting with long applause during the procession until arriving at the Basilica and in front of the altar of Confession. The coffin where the Holy Father’s body lies is made of a simple wooden base.
On Friday, April 25, at 8:00 p.m. local time, the ceremony to close the coffin of Pope Francis will take place in St. Peter’s Basilica. This rite will be presided over by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farreill, Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church.
As published by the Office for the Liturgical Celebration of the Pontifical, the following will participate in the celebration: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals Roger Michael Mahony, Cardinal Father Dominique Mamberti, Cardinal Protodeacon and Mauro Gambetti, Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
This celebration will also be attended by the Cardinals: Pietro Parolin, former Vatican Secretary of State; Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome; Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness. In addition, Bishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State, Bishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, the Vice-Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, Bishop Leonardo Sapienza, the Regent of the Pope’s Civil Household, the Canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Ordinary Minor Penitentiaries of the Vatican, the priests authorized by the Master of the Celebration of the Pontifical Liturgy, Bishop Diego Ravelli, will also be present.
TATOLI
