Vatican releases pope's funeral program

The funeral for Pope Francis, who died Monday, April 21, is planned for Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Roman time, or 7 a.m. Pacific Daylight Savings time. Most of the service will be held outside St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square.

In preparation, the Vatican has published online the program for the funeral Mass. The 45-page libretto includes liturgical elements familiar to practicing Catholics -- the penitential act, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and scripture, including the 23rd Psalm ("The Lord is my shepherd"), Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 (Simon Peter's testimony about Jesus), Paul's Letter to the Philippians 3:20-4:1 (in which he challenges his readers to "Rejoice in the Lord always") and the Gospel of John 21:15-19 ( in which Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?").

The service will also include a lengthy liturgy of the saints and a final blessing, "O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our Bishop, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy forever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth."

Francis made his own funeral preparations, including a single simple casket to be displayed at ground level and burial at Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, about 3 miles from the Vatican. Francis had a special devotion to that church, praying there on his first day as pope and often afterward.