The body of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday, giving Catholics and mourners around the world the opportunity to pay their final respects before his funeral on Saturday.
The beloved Argentine pope, who served for 12 years, died peacefully at Casa Santa Marta, his humble Vatican residence, after suffering a stroke. His body was initially moved to the chapel there before being transferred to the basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. local time in a solemn procession marked by liturgy, psalms, and prayers.
Francis’s simple wooden coffin will be placed before the Altar of the Confession, beneath the towering bronze baldacchino by Bernini and Michelangelo’s iconic dome. The basilica will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to midnight on Thursday, and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Saturday’s funeral in the Baroque square outside the basilica is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of mourners, including global dignitaries such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Britain’s Prince William.
In a break with recent tradition, Pope Francis will be interred outside the Vatican, at Santa Maria Maggiore, his favourite Roman basilica. His grave will be marked with a modest inscription: Franciscus. He is the first pope in over a century to be buried beyond Vatican walls.
As Italy braces for a large-scale security operation, with a public holiday on Friday adding to crowds, five days of national mourning have been declared. This surpasses the three days observed for Pope John Paul II in 2005, though it falls short of the seven-day period proclaimed by Argentina for their native son.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to elect Francis’s successor. Cardinals under the age of 80 have been summoned back to Rome to participate in the conclave, which must begin between 15 and 20 days following a pope’s death. The general congregation of cardinals met Tuesday to finalise funeral arrangements and is expected to meet again on Wednesday under the leadership of Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is overseeing Vatican operations during the transition.
Pope Francis’s passing came just weeks after he was released from hospital following a five-week battle with double pneumonia. Despite his frailty, he continued public appearances, including an Easter Sunday procession through St Peter’s Square just one day before his death.
His final moments were marked by a peaceful passing at 7:35 a.m., following a stroke and heart failure. Vatican-released images from Monday night show the pontiff dressed in red papal vestments, a mitre atop his head and a rosary entwined between his fingers—true to the modest, pastoral figure he was throughout his papacy.
Mourners from around the world continue to gather at the Vatican, many expressing profound sorrow. "It’s very hard, very sad," said Sister Maria Guadeloupe Hernandez Olivo from Mexico. "I believe he's in a better place now, but there is an emptiness. We’ve lost our shepherd."