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On Wednesday, Catholic cardinals performed a ritual to move Pope Francis’ body from his residence at the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days before the funeral.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, currently in charge of the Vatican administration until a new pope is chosen, led the ceremony in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where Pope Francis resided.
A choir performed as cardinals, dressed in red cassocks and capes, stood in prayer.
The Pope’s casket, in a procession led by cardinals and Swiss Guards, was carried through the same piazza from which he recently greeted the faithful from his popemobile in his final public appearance.
Pallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican’s gates into St. Peter’s Square and then into the basilica, followed by the cardinals and Swiss Guards.
The public filled St. Peter’s Square to observe the procession entering the basilica.
While heads of state are expected to attend the funeral on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, the public viewing is primarily for ordinary Catholics to pay their respects to the Pope.
The basilica will remain open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday. The public mourning period will conclude on Friday at 7 p.m., after which the casket will be closed and sealed.
The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy, and Argentine President Javier Milei, are expected to attend the funeral for the Argentine-born Pope.
Inside the basilica, Pope Francis’ casket will be placed directly on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, facing the pews, rather than on an elevated bier as was done with previous popes.
Cardinals are continuing to meet this week to plan the conclave for electing the next pope and to address other matters concerning the Catholic Church’s administration.
Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke which led to a coma and heart failure. His death concluded his 12-year papacy as the 266th pope and spiritual leader.
The Pope, who had a history of chronic lung disease and had a part of his lung removed earlier in life, spent 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital starting on Feb. 14 for a respiratory crisis that became double pneumonia.
He was still recovering when he made his last public appearance on Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and a final greeting to followers from his popemobile. The Pope also met with U.S. Vice President on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta.
In his final will, Pope Francis stated he wished to be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.