Lithuania will honor the late pope by observing a national day of mourning on the day of his funeral.
In a significant display of respect and recognition, Lithuania has announced a day of mourning on April 26, 2025, to honour the funeral of Pope Francis. This decision underscores Lithuania's acknowledgment of the pope's profound impact on the Catholic Church and his commitment to humanitarian and social justice causes during his pontificate.
Pope Francis, known for his reforms aimed at opening the doors of the Church to modern believers, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, following a stroke. His funeral will take place in Rome, Italy, specifically at the plaza in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
The Lithuanian Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas is expected to play a key role in the funeral, further highlighting Lithuania’s close connection to this event and the Church. The funeral is expected to draw huge crowds, reflecting the international significance of this solemn occasion.
Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič made the announcement, stating that Lithuanian flags with black ribbons will be raised on state and municipal buildings, company offices, and residential buildings from 07:00 to 22:00 on April 26, 2025.
After the funeral, Pope Francis' coffin will be taken from St Peter's Basilica and transported to Rome's Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be buried. From there, his coffin will be taken inside St Peter's Basilica after the funeral.
These reforms, which stirred both enthusiasm and controversy within the Church, resonated internationally, including in Lithuania. Pope Francis was widely seen as a humble leader focused on care for the vulnerable and efforts toward dialogue and peace. Thus, Lithuania’s mourning reflects both religious respect and broader recognition of his contributions to peace, justice, and interfaith dialogue.
The funeral is scheduled to take place on a Saturday, although the exact date for the burial ceremonies has not been announced. The funeral and burial ceremonies are not scheduled to take place in Lithuania.
This decision by the Lithuanian cabinet to declare a day of mourning on April 26, 2025, is a testament to the pope's global impact and the deep respect Lithuania holds for him.
The poignant declaration of a day of mourning in Lithuania on April 26, 2025, underscores the nation's political acknowledgment of Pope Francis' passing and his significant role in general news, particularly his commitment to humanitarian and social justice causes.
The international significance of Pope Francis' funeral, as demonstrated by the expected large crowds, mirrors the global impact he had in areas such as interfaith dialogue, peace, and justice, causing Lithuania's mourning to extend beyond religious respect.
