Pope Francis’ Body Is Transferred To St. Peter's Basilica For Public Viewing

Catholic cardinals performed nan ritual ceremonial connected Wednesday to transportation Pope Francis’ assemblage from his location successful nan Vatican edifice to St. Peter’s Basilica to connection 3 days of nationalist viewing earlier his funeral.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is moving nan Vatican management until Francis' successor is elected, presided complete nan ceremonial successful nan chapel of nan Domus Santa Marta edifice wherever Francis lived.

A choir sang arsenic cardinals wearing their reddish cassocks and capes stood successful prayer.

Francis' casket was escorted by a convoy of intense cardinals and Swiss Guards done nan aforesaid piazza wherever he greeted nan religious from his popemobile conscionable days earlier successful what would beryllium his last goodbye.

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The ceremonial pinch Pope Francis' body, who will dishonesty successful authorities astatine St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days, passes done nan crowd astatine nan Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)

Pallbearers carried nan elemental woody coffin connected their shoulders done nan Vatican's archway gates and retired into St. Peter's Square and into nan basilica. The cardinals and nan Swiss Guards processed slow behind.

Ordinary religious filled St. Peter’s Square to watch nan convoy participate nan basilica.

Heads of authorities are expected for nan ceremonial Saturday successful St. Peter’s Square, but nan 3 days of nationalist viewing are mostly for mean Catholics to salary their respects to nan pontiff.

The basilica is being kept unfastened until midnight connected Wednesday and Thursday. The nationalist mourning play will extremity connected Friday astatine 7 p.m., erstwhile Francis' casket will beryllium closed and sealed.

The ceremonial has been group for Saturday astatine 10 a.m. successful St. Peter’s Square. Leaders from astir nan world, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy and Argentine President Javier Milei, will be nan ceremonial for nan pope, who was calved successful Argentina.

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The ceremonial pinch Pope Francis' body, who will dishonesty successful authorities astatine St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days, passes done nan crowd astatine nan Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)

Inside nan basilica, Francis' casket will not beryllium put connected an elevated bier for illustration pinch past popes. Instead, it will conscionable beryllium placed connected nan main altar of nan 16th-century basilica, simply facing nan pews.

Cardinals proceed to meet this week to scheme nan conclave to elite nan adjacent pope and make different decisions astir moving nan Catholic Church.

Francis died Monday greeting astatine nan property of 88 aft suffering a changeable that landed him successful a coma and resulted successful his bosom failure. His decease marked nan extremity of his 12-year papacy arsenic nan 266th pope and belief leader of nan Roman Catholic Church.

The assemblage of Pope Francis is placed into St. Peter's Basilica astatine nan Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, wherever he will dishonesty successful authorities for 3 days. (AP)

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The pope, who suffered from chronic lung illness and had portion of 1 lung removed erstwhile he was younger, spent 38 days successful Rome's Gemelli infirmary starting connected Feb. 14 to dainty a respiratory situation that developed into double pneumonia.

He was still recovering erstwhile he made his past nationalist quality connected Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and what would beryllium his last greeting to followers from his popemobile. The pope besides met pinch U.S. Vice President JD Vance connected Easter Sunday astatine nan Casa Santa Marta.

In his last will, Francis confirmed he would beryllium buried astatine St. Mary Major basilica, which is located extracurricular nan Vatican and location to his favourite icon of nan Virgin Mary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.