Boston Archbishop to Lead Kennedy Mass Saturday
Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, will celebrate the funeral Mass for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in Boston on Saturday, his family announced Friday evening.
The funeral, which will also feature a eulogy by President Barack Obama, will be held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Hope and will cap three days of memorial services and other events celebrating Kennedy’s life.
Boston police said Friday they estimated more than 50,000 people had viewed Kennedy’s casket while he lay in repose in the John F. Kennedy Library on Thursday and Friday.
Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), former aide Stephanie Cutter, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, former Sen. Wyche Fowler (D-Ga.), Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), former Sen. James Sasser (D-Tenn.) and political consultant Bob Shrum will act as honorary pallbearers, according to Kennedy’s family. Yo-Yo Ma will perform during the Mass.
Kennedy will be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland following the funeral. A motorcade will take him to the Capitol for a brief prayer ceremony before being taken to Arlington National Cemetery to be buried with his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-Mass.).