Washington DC – The funeral of Pope Francis is slated for 10:00 AM Rome time on Saturday, April 26th. Vatican experts expect the conclave or election process of the next Pope to begin on May 6th.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership, releases the following statement:

"Pope Francis decided that his funeral should be simpler than the past funerals of Popes.

"Francis wants us to remember him as someone who lived by example as an advocate of the poor and our planet.

"His legacy is embodied in the sacred messages of the Jubilee Year to set captives free and use debt relief to end poverty and protect the environment.

"When ever I was with Francis, he was laughing and telling jokes. He teaches us to try to confront life's greatest challenges with joy and love.

"I believe Francis to be the greatest and most popular world leader of our time.

"We should have a new Pope by May 10th.

"We will have a new Pope that shares the vision of Pope Francis.

"Pope Francis was the first Pope who was everyone's Pope. He was a Pope claimed by all faiths and those who felt alienated by faith."

Read Jubilee USA's statement on Pope Francis' views of IMF, World Bank and G20 spring meetings here. 

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the passing of Pope Francis who had focused this year's Church efforts on debt relief and IMF reform here.

Read the letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network on following Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 focus here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch for Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 call here.