Pope Francis’ body has arrived at St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewings from 11am today.
The solemn procession to the basilica marked the start of a three-day period for the faithful to pay their respects ahead of Saturday’s funeral mass. Pope Francis’ funeral mass will be held at 10.00am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the mass, joined by clergy from around the world.
World leaders, cardinals and crowds of pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral.
The Prince of Wales will join the likes of US president Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky to pay their respects to the pontiff, who died aged 88 on Monday.
He is said to have showed the first signs of sudden illness two hours before passing, according to the Vatican news outlet, which reported he made a gesture of farewell with his hand to his nurse before falling into a coma.
His death came after he was hospitalised with double pneumonia for several weeks in February, before he returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recover.
Pope Francis’ funeral will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the official liturgical guide for papal funerals, first published in 2000 and revised by Francis just last year.
According to Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of apostolic ceremonies, Francis aimed to “simplify and adapt” the rites so that the papal funeral is “that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful person in this world”.
Pope Francis’ body has arrived at St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewings from 11am today.
Pope Francis’ funeral mass will be held at 10.00am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
With Pope Francis’ death on Monday, the spotlight now shifts to the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will vote in the conclave to choose his successor.
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