Basilica in Gdańsk opens Umbraculum in tribute to Pope Francis
The basilica in Gdańsk, northern Poland, received its Umbraculum in 1929 from Pope Pius XI. After being lost during World War II, it was rediscovered in 2019 during restoration work.
The gold-and-red striped umbrella, part of the papal insignia, is traditionally displayed in basilicas around the world during papal visits.
Typically used to provide shade for the pontiff, the Umbraculum is now slightly open, symbolizing the absence of a reigning pope, or "sede vacante." It is displayed alongside the crossed-keys, a symbol of Saint Peter.
The Umbraculum at St. Nicholas Basilica in Gdańsk has been opened to honor the memory of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Umbraculum, a gold and red striped umbrella, is part of the papal insignia traditionally displayed in basilicas around the world during papal visits. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
The umbraculum in Gdańsk will remain open until the inauguration of the new papacy, said Father Michał Osek of St. Nicholas Basilica in Gdańsk in a statement to TVN24, a major Polish news channel.
The first couple and Sejm representatives to attend Pope Francis' funeral
Saturday, April 26 – the day of Pope Francis’s funeral – will be a national day of mourning in Poland, announced the Chancellery of President Andrzej Duda. The decree still requires the approval of the prime minister. President Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, will attend the funeral ceremonies.
The Speaker of the Sejm (the lower house of the Polish Parliament) will also travel to the Vatican with a delegation, the Sejm's press office announced on social media.
Source: IAR/TVN24/X/@prezydentpl/@KancelariaSejmu
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