The body of late Pope Francis is lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, which will remain open for three days until his funeral on Saturday.
World leaders, including President Donald Trump, are expected to attend.
His body was transferred to the Basilica during a procession earlier Wednesday. It was followed by a service led by Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, the cardinal tasked with arranging Pope Francis’ funeral and the conclave in the weeks ahead.
Francis’ coffin was laid at the Altar of the Confessio, a sacred space in front of the main altar above the tomb of St. Peter, the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinals in the Basilica approached the coffin in pairs to pay their respects. Afterwards, the first members of the public entered to visit the coffin and pay their respects.
The Basilica opened to the public at 11am local time (5am ET) Wednesday and will remain open until midnight.
It will open at 7am and close at midnight on Thursday and Friday.
Thousands of mourners were waiting outside the Basilica in St. Peter’s Square, in clear skies and spring sunshine, for their turn to view the body of the late Pontiff.
Before the procession, Camerlengo Farrell held a brief service in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta with a short antiphon, or chant, of hope.
“Let us thank the Lord for countless gifts that he bestowed on the Christian people through His servant Pope Francis,” the Camerlengo said in prayer.
“Let us ask him in his mercy and kindness to grant the late pope an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven and to comfort with celestial hope, the papal family, the church in Rome and the faithful throughout the world.”
After lying-in-state for three days, Francis’ funeral will begin at 10am local time (4am ET) on Saturday, six days after his death.
The last papal funeral, for Pope Benedict XVI in 2023, was also held six days after his death.
The Vatican announced that Francis’ funeral would be held outside St. Peter’s Square.
A string of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have confirmed they will travel to the Vatican for the service. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are among the major European leaders travelling to the Vatican for the funeral.
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