Catholic cardinals carried out the ritual ceremony on Wednesday to switch Pope Francis’ physique from his house within the Vatican resort to St. Peter’s Basilica to supply three days of public viewing earlier than his funeral.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who’s operating the Vatican administration till Francis’ successor is elected, presided over the ceremony within the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta resort the place Francis lived.
A choir sang as cardinals sporting their crimson cassocks and capes stood in prayer.
Francis’ casket was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards by means of the identical piazza the place he greeted the trustworthy from his popemobile simply days earlier than in what could be his last goodbye.
POPE FRANCIS TO LIE IN STATE, MOURNERS WELCOME: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PONTIFF’S FUNERAL
The ceremony with Pope Francis’ physique, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for 3 days, passes by means of the gang on the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)
Pallbearers carried the easy wood coffin on their shoulders by means of the Vatican’s archway gates and out into St. Peter’s Sq. and into the basilica. The cardinals and the Swiss Guards processed slowly behind.
Peculiar trustworthy stuffed St. Peter’s Sq. to look at the procession enter the basilica.
Heads of state are anticipated for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter’s Sq., however the three days of public viewing are largely for unusual Catholics to pay their respects to the pontiff.
The basilica is being saved open till midnight on Wednesday and Thursday. The general public mourning interval will finish on Friday at 7 p.m., when Francis’ casket will probably be closed and sealed.
The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Sq.. Leaders from world wide, together with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy and Argentine President Javier Milei, will attend the funeral for the pope, who was born in Argentina.
FIRST PHOTOS RELEASED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY
The ceremony with Pope Francis’ physique, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for 3 days, passes by means of the gang on the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)
Contained in the basilica, Francis’ casket is not going to be placed on an elevated bier like with previous popes. As a substitute, it should simply be positioned on the principle altar of the Sixteenth-century basilica, merely going through the pews.
Cardinals proceed to satisfy this week to plan the conclave to elect the subsequent pope and make different choices about operating the Catholic Church.
Francis died Monday morning on the age of 88 after struggling a stroke that landed him in a coma and resulted in his coronary heart failure. His demise marked the tip of his 12-year papacy because the 266th pope and religious chief of the Roman Catholic Church.
The physique of Pope Francis is positioned into St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the place he’ll lie in state for 3 days. (AP)
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The pope, who suffered from power lung illness and had a part of one lung eliminated when he was youthful, spent 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital beginning on Feb. 14 to deal with a respiratory disaster that developed into double pneumonia.
He was nonetheless recovering when he made his final public look on Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and what could be his last greeting to followers from his popemobile. The pope additionally met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday on the Casa Santa Marta.
In his last will, Francis confirmed he could be buried at St. Mary Main basilica, which is situated outdoors the Vatican and residential to his favourite icon of the Virgin Mary.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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