Rome is no stranger to top events that unfold in real time. However, when the Pope dies, the eternal city quickly enters the spotlight. And since this is already the year of Jubilee, that’s even more. In the next few weeks (yes, this is an epic week-long event), Rome, already a spiritual fulcrum, will be the ties of pilgrims, press, politicians, protocols and tennis fans at the Italian Open, which will take place from May 6-18, 2025.
Calendar of events for the period of Pope’s burial and mourning
Starting April 23rd, Pope Francis will be in the province for three days at St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Vatican City, where mourners from all over the world will gather to pay their respects. Among them is 252 Cardinals, including the 135 Cardinals who will need to be in Rome prior to the upcoming Conclave (more details below).
The funeral will be held on April 26th at St. Peter’s Cathedral. After the ceremony, Pope Francis will be buried in the cathedral of Santa Maria Magiaore, one of Rome’s four main Pope basilicas. Most popes of the past century have been buried in Vatican caves under St. Peter.
On the day of the funeral, the Vatican enters Novendiales, a strict period of nine days of official mourning. During this time, St. Peter’s Cathedral is regularly closed for liturgy. Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel will close on April 26th, with regular mourning closures expected.
What does this mean for visitors to Rome?
Rome will not be stopped completely, but transportation is extremely difficult, especially in the Vatican City and its surroundings and in the Eschilino area, where the cathedral is Santa Maria Maggiore is located. To complicate the matter even further, 2025 is the year of Jubilee, with millions of pilgrims already planning to visit Rome. Many are already here, including the 300,000 pilgrims who come to canoe Carlo Accotis on April 27th, an Italian teenager born in England and come to canoe Carlo Accotis on computers beaten in 2020. Expect long wraparound lines of visitors lined up for Pope viewing, funerals and burials, as well as strict security, re-routed transport and traffic bans.
How about air and rail travel?
If you’re worried that you might bump into the cardinal, you may find yourself sharing the sky (or the train platform) with diplomats, pilgrims, politicians, and priests. From the funeral to the conclave period (details outlined below), Rome experiences a wave of high-level arrivals, including heads of state, senior officials and religious leaders.
That means busy airports, longer security lines and potential delays all mean real possibilities.
Diplomatic transport can lead to airspace congestion or rescheduled arrivals, particularly at Leonardo da Vinci Roma Fiumicino Airport (FCO), a major international airport in Rome. On funeral day, travelers flying, passing, or flying from Italy will need braces due to the confusion and crowding of flights at FCO and Rome’s secondary airport, Ciampino (CIA). The roads could be closed to unauthorized vehicles, including around the city’s main arteries and the Rome ring road. This was similar to the vast road closures that Rome saw in 2005, which resulted in a complete closure of the city centre and airspace in central Rom.
What’s open, what’s not
- St. Peter’s Square: open. The gorgeous square and surrounding streets will open, but will come from shoulder to shoulder along with mourners, pilgrims and media.
- Sistine Chapel: Closed. When Michelangelo’s ceiling begins, do not expect the funeral to begin or to be visible during the period of mourning of the novelias. It will definitely be closed for the conclave.
- Vatican Museum: TBA. The museum may be closed or have closed sections while in mourning, with several sections and may remain open.
- Santa Maria Magiore Cathedral in Esquilin: TBA. Pope Francis’ chosen burial churches could carry out closures during, during and after burial.
- Restaurants, stores and other events: open. Shops et al. You need to close it. At the discretion of the owner/organizer. For additional information, please check the website and call or email.
- Colosseum, Forum, and other attractions: open. All major sites outside Vatican City continue their business as usual, but last minute bookings are difficult and the crowds are the best ever. Keep an eye out for schedule changes or cancellations for all tours, including the Vatican.
- Hotel: open. Be sure to double-check your booking, taking into account the expected surge in new arrivals. Good luck if you haven’t booked a hotel or vacation rental until May.
What is the process of electing a new pope?
The Conclave, a traditional election of the new pope by Cardinal of University, is being held within the Sistine Chapel. The exact date has not been announced yet, but all voting cardinals must be in Rome before it begins. In 2005, Conclave began 16 days after Pope John Paul II’s funeral. If you are doing mathematics from viewing to funerals, funerals and Novendiales, this time the conclave may begin around May 5th. In addition to that, in addition to the Italian Open (May 6-18), Italian players and world number one Jannik Sinner will attract thousands of tennis fans to the capital.
During the Conclave, the Sistine Chapel is generally closed as the Cardinals gather in strict secrets to vote. This process can last several days, perhaps long, until you reach a decision. When that moment comes, the world is watching the signal. White smoke rises from the chimney of the chapel, and it appears that everyone in Rome is rushing to St. Peter’s square for a declaration.There is a Pope. “On the balcony of the cathedral, a senior cardinal surrounded by others announces, “We have a Pope!” Then he introduced the new Pope by his name and title, and that’s it.
Does that affect travel? Only if you need to cross cities when an unpredictable announcement occurs.
What happens when a new Pope is elected? Are there many events? Traditionally, there is an inauguration ceremony, but “we can’t know (the type of event we expect),” explains art historian and Vatican expert Liz Lev. “The new Pope may be the modest type who is trying to follow in Francis’ footsteps.
If you’re in Rome now or heading here soon, a logistics headache might be worth it. The succession of the Pope was a special event, especially during the year of Jubilee, and the two are not the same.
