Pope Francis’ body carried into St Peter’s Basilica

News.com.au - 10:47
Pope Francis’s body has arrived at Saint Peter’s Basilica to lie in state before his weekend funeral after being carried past thousands of mourners in Rome.

Pope Francis’s body has arrived at Saint Peter’s Basilica to lie in state before his weekend funeral after being carried past thousands of mourners in Rome.

Francis died from stroke and heart failure in Rome on Easter Monday, aged 88, after 12 years as head of the Catholic Church.

On Wednesday, local time, the late pope’s open wooden coffin was carried from where he lived and died at Casa Santa Marta, 500m across St Peter’s Square to the basilica.

The body of Pope Francis being transferred to the Basilica at St Peter’s Square. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

His body was carried by pallbearers behind a procession of red-robed cardinals and Swiss Guards as St Peter’s Bells rang out.

Eight Swiss Guards carrying staffs walked beside the op...
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