Funeral Mass for Pope Francis to be held at 10 AM on Saturday in St. Peter's Square

The funeral of Pope Francis is set for tomorrow in the Vatican City.

His journey to eternity will not only bring together world leaders, but migrant and refugees as well.

Our Choi Soo-hyung has more.

The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, will be held at 10 AM local time on Saturday, April 26th, at St. Peter's Square in the heart of the Vatican.

His body was moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public mourning, and in just two days, more than 90-thousand people have paid their respects.

On the first day, there were larger crowds than expected, with people waiting more than eight hours.

The Vatican extended visiting hours on that day until 5:30 AM to welcome them.

It is expected that more than 250,000 mourners will pay their respects before the final day of public visiting, and an even larger crowd is anticipated for the Funeral Mass.

The Funeral Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the leader of the College of Cardinals, with cardinals, bishops, and priests from around the world jointly officiating.

In accordance with the Pope's wishes, the ceremony will be a simple and modest one, significantly simplified from traditional papal funerals.

Instead of the ornate, triple-layered coffin used in the past, his body will be placed in a single, simple wooden coffin.

A scroll documenting the achievements of his papacy, along with coins and medals, will be sealed inside.

Many world leaders will also gather for Pope Francis's funeral.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William of the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present.

South Korea is also sending a delegation, led by the country's Culture Minister Yu In-chon.

Migrants and refugees, who were especially close to the Pope's heart during his lifetime, will also attend.

After the Funeral Mass, the Pope will be laid to eternal rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, a place he visited often and held dear.

The funeral procession will slowly travel about six kilometers through central Rome, passing historic landmarks, including the Colosseum.

Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.