Vatican media to provide global coverage of Pope Francis' funeral

Thousands queue in St Peter's Square to pay their respects to Pope Francis - Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

Vatican media will provide live coverage of the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square, tomorrow, followed by the procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, offering broadcasts in 15 languages, including four sign languages.

The Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope Francis will draw the attention of the entire world, recalling memories of a similar solemn moment twenty years ago with the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II, on 8 April 2005. At the same time, this funeral will mark a unique occasion for today's media, as it will mark the first time the transfer of a Pope's mortal remains from the Vatican to another location for burial will be broadcast live globally.

Vatican Radio - Vatican News will broadcast live the full Requiem Mass, followed by the procession accompanying the Pope's coffin from St. Peter's Square to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will be laid to rest, as per his wishes.

To ensure the widest possible audience can follow the events, the Dicastery for Communication will provide live radio and television commentary in 15 languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, German, Polish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Arabic, along with four sign languages: American Sign Language (ASL), Italian, Spanish, and French.

Television coverage, provided by the Vatican Television Center - Vatican Media, will include aerial and ground video of both St Peter's Square and the entire route to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Multimedia coverage (print, radio, television, and social media, including commentary and in-depth analysis) will be offered in 56 languages-the same used across the platforms of Vatican News, Vatican Radio, and L'Osservatore Romano.

Broadcast channels and platforms

Here are the details on how to follow the 26 April broadcast:

- Vatican News website: www.vaticannews.va (for video click on the Vatican Media Live-YouTube button; for audio only, click on the web radio speaker icon below the top main menu). Vatican News App - Google Play, Vatican News App - iTunes)

- Vatican News YouTube channels (English channel - Original sound only channel)

- Vatican Radio web radio in 11 languages (Radio Vatican App - Google Play, Radio Vaticana App - iTunes)

- Shortwave broadcasts in English, French, and Portuguese for Africa

- Live coverage on Facebook in Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German

- Instagram live in Italian, Portuguese, and German

Italian-Language Coverage

Three Italian-language commentary positions will be active: two in St Peter's Square and one outside the Basilica of St Mary Major. Live coverage begins at around 8.10am from the Charlamagne Wing.

Around 9.30am, coverage will switch to the main studio for the Requiem Mass, which starts at 10am. Starting in the morning, the St. Mary Major broadcasting position will also share live coverage of the prayers and the participation of the faithful.

Italian-language broadcast frequencies:

- 103.8 FM in the city of Rome

- 105 FM for Rome and surrounding areas

- DAB+ digital radio: www.digitalradio.it

- TV channel 733 in the Rome area

(Many parishes and Catholic communities around the world will be holding screenings of this historic event. )