Pope Francis will participate in the funeral Mass for Cardinal Bernard Law today in St Peter's Basilica in Rome, consistent with the current Pope's message of forgiveness and in keeping with centuries of tradition, Church figures have said.

Confirmation that Pope Francis will take part came as an advocacy group for survivors of sex abuse called on him to keep survivors in mind during the funeral Mass.

SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) said, 'This celebratory focus on abuse enablers like Law must end'.

The funeral Mass for Law, who died on Tuesday at the age of 86, will be celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who will be joined by other cardinals, archbishops, and bishops, according to Church officials.

In a statement on Law's death, Pope Francis expressed condolences to the College of Cardinals.

'I raise prayers for the repose of his soul, that the Lord, God who is rich in mercy, may welcome him in his eternal peace, and I send my apostolic blessing to those who share in mourning the passing of the cardinal, whom I entrust to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani,' Francis said.

The Boston Globe, the newspaper which uncovered the abuse scandal over which Law presided, reported that among those not attending will be Law's successor in Boston, Cardinal Sean P O'Malley, who recently returned from a week in Rome, according to his spokesperson.

'Having just returned from a week of meetings in Rome with the Holy Father and his fellow cardinals, Cardinal Sean will remain in the US,'' the spokesperson told the Globe. 'Upon learning of Cardinal Law's failing health, Cardinal Sean visited him in the hospital before returning to Boston.'

Reacting to Law's death, O'Malley offered an apology yesterday to those who were sexually abused by Catholic priests during Law's tenure.

'I am particularly cognizant of all who experienced the trauma of sexual abuse by clergy, whose lives were so seriously impacted by those crimes, and their families and loved ones,' he wrote. 'To those men and women, I offer my sincere apologies for the harm they suffered, my continued prayers and my promise that the Archdiocese will support them in their effort to achieve healing.'

He added: 'Cardinal Law served at a time when the Church failed seriously in its responsibilities to provide pastoral care for her people, and with tragic outcomes failed to care for the children of our parish communities. I deeply regret that reality and its consequences.'

Pope Francis will be present during the service, but will only take an active part at the end when what is known as the 'final commendation' is performed, said Fr James T Bretzke, a Boston College professor of moral theology to the Globe.

Bretzke said that Pope Francis is unlikely to stray from the written liturgy during the service, adding that the Pope is acting consistent with centuries of Catholic tradition and in keeping with Francis' message of 'mercy and forgiveness'.

Bretzke added that a pope always attends the funeral of a cardinal who dies in Rome.

In its statement, SNAP said Catholics should ask the Vatican why Law was promoted to a prominent position at a Vatican basilica after he resigned in disgrace as Boston's archbishop.

'This celebratory focus on abuse enablers like Law must end. It is time for the Vatican to refocus on change: protecting children and those who have been hurt,' SNAP said.