Pope Francis’s funeral set for saturday at St. Peter’s Square, Here’s how to watch
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88. His funeral will be held this Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, beginning at 10 a.m. local time in Vatican City (4 a.m. ET).
As the world prepares to bid farewell, mourners from all corners of the globe are expected to attend. The late pontiff, originally from Latin America, made history as the first to come from the region.
Canada will be officially represented by Governor General Mary Simon, while Prime Minister Mark Carney continues his federal election campaign.
A Global Gathering in Vatican City
The Vatican expects an international crowd. Religious leaders, cardinals, bishops, and dignitaries from around the world will gather.
Pope Francis was known for his humility, progressive views, and strong stance on global issues. His legacy drew attention far beyond the Church.
Canadians Can Watch It Live
Although the ceremony begins early for Canadians, several networks are making it easier to tune in. Both television and digital options are available.
Here’s how viewers in Canada can catch the live coverage:
CBC News Special – Francis: A Pope’s Funeral
CBC News will air a live special hosted by Heather Hiscox from St. Peter’s Square. CBC calls Francis a pope who "challenged convention and defied expectations."
Coverage starts at 3 a.m. ET. Viewers can watch it on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC GEM, and all CBC digital platforms.
CTV News Coverage with Canadian Experts
Omar Sachedina, CTV’s chief anchor, will lead the broadcast. He’ll be joined by Vatican correspondents and Canadian academic Dr. Michael Higgins.
Live reporting from the Vatican will be led by Genevieve Beauchemin and Gerard O’Connell from America Magazine.
This special starts at 3:30 a.m. ET and is available on CTV, CP24, and online via CTV.ca and its apps.
CityNews Livestream Across Devices
CityNews 24/7 will stream the funeral as part of its daily coverage. Reporters from Rogers Communications will provide updates throughout the day.
Coverage starts at 4 a.m. ET. Watch on Rogers Xfinity, Amazon Prime Video, or CityNews’ official website.
ABC – Celebrating Francis: The People’s Pope
ABC will air special coverage beginning at 3 a.m. ET. It will be led by David Muir with a team of international correspondents.
Reporters include Deborah Roberts, James Longman, Terry Moran, and Maggie Rulli, offering in-depth perspectives and on-site insights.
NBC Broadcasts the Funeral Live
NBC will carry the full ceremony live during its regular programming hours. Coverage begins at 4 a.m. ET.
Vatican News Offers Multilingual Livestream
The Vatican’s official multimedia outlet will stream the funeral on YouTube.
The livestream will be available in English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German. It begins at 4 a.m. ET.
A Moment the World Will Remember
Pope Francis’s passing marks the end of a remarkable era. His leadership, compassion, and reformist spirit shaped the Church and beyond.
Millions will gather — in person and virtually — to say their final goodbye.
