What happens, when Key things to know about today's funeral

The outdoor service takes place in St Peter's Square in Rome at 10am local time (9am UK time), led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals.

- Sam Jones Angela Giuffrida

When and where is the funeral? It is expected to be attended by 170 foreign delegations, as well as a thousands-strong crowd.

About 50,000 people attended the funeral of Francis's predecessor, Pope Benedict, in St Peter's Square in January 2023.

Which foreign leaders and royals will attend? Donald Trump - the US president whose policies on immigration and mass deportations were criticised by the late pope - will attend with his wife, Melania. Others expected include the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres; President Emmanuel Macron of France; Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president; Sergio Mattarella and Giorgia Meloni, the president and prime minister of Italy; King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain; Michael D Higgins and Micheál Martin, the president and taoiseach of Ireland. Keir Starmer will be attending, with Prince William there on behalf of King Charles.

Russia will be represented by its culture minister, Olga Lyubimova. Vladimir Putin has not visited a western country since ordering Ukraine's invasion three years ago. He is the subject of an international criminal court arrest warrant for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

What security measures are in place? Barriers have been installed in and outside St Peter's Basilica to control the crowds, security checks have been increased.