Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral | Eyewitness News updates

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel with the Ukrainian first lady to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome on Saturday, Zelenskyy's communications adviser said Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to attend Pope Francis' funeral, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday. Peskov said it has not been decided who will represent Russia at the funeral right now.

"When it is made, we will inform you," Peksov added.

Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St. Peter's Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history's first Latin American pontiff.

The cardinals met Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis' successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10.

The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. U.S. President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.

Click here for more.

Some of the cardinals are meeting Tuesday in what's called the congregation of the cardinals as an opportunity for them to get to know each other before they conclave.

Pope Francis' funeral will be 10 a.m. Vatican City time Saturday in St. Peter's Square. Keeping with his wishes, remaining modest he directed the church to inter him in a single coffin instead of the traditional nested trio.

Starting Wednesday, the public will be able to pay their respects.

He will be buried about three miles away at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, home to his icon Virgin Mary.

Eyewitness News Anchor Mike Marza visited the basilica with Timothy Cardinal Dolan in 2023. They met a family from New Jersey on a preplanned pilgrimage to the Vatican.

The conclave to select the next pope will begin in a couple weeks; 135 cardinals will elect the next pontiff.

Mike Marza has more:

Mike Marza has the latest from Vatican City.

Since Pope Francis' death, crowds have been showing up to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Timothy Cardinal Dolan will preside over a mass there for repose, in the same place the pope celebrated mass nearly a decade ago. This is a very significant service that will also draw both state and city officials.

Cardinal Dolan leaves for Rome Tuesday night, but he was already scheduled to be there, before the pope's passing.

"This is the jubilee year 2025, Pope Francis had invited people from all over the world to visit the city of Peter and Paul, so I said let's go. Let's take the invitation from Pope Francis seriously. So we start our pilgrimage," he said.

Tuesday's mass will be similar to other scenes in the Tri-State area and around the world.

New Yorkers say they are in sorrow, but unified by the message he leaves behind.

"I think his legacy is trying to bring every together and realize there's no hierarchy," a mourner said. "Whether you're a child born Tijuana, Tennessee, Toronto. You're still God's child."

The college of cardinals from around the world is now preparing to bury their leader before they choose the next.

Watch Phil Taitt's report below:

Phil Taitt reports from outside St. Patrick's Cathedral ahead of the mass.