The Pope’s coffin, escorted by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and other priests, was transported from Casa Santa Marta, where he died, to the Basilica, where people will be able to come pay their respects over the next few days.
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Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell stands before the body of Pope Francis inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 23, where he will lie in state for three days. Photo by AFP
Hundreds of Catholics have gathered at St Peter’s Square in Vatican
City to have the chance to file past the coffin of Pope Francis to pay their
respects, before he is transported to his final resting place on Saturday.
This morning, after blessing and prayer, the
procession began towards Saint Peter's Basilica. The procession was led by Camerlengo
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, whom Pope Francis nominated for the role in 2019.
As Camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell will be
tasked with making arrangements for the conclave, the process through which the
next pontiff is selected.
The Pope’s coffin, escorted by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and
other priests, was transported from Casa Santa Marta, where he died, to the Basilica,
where people will be able to come pay their respects over the next few days.
As the coffin passed by St. Peter’s Square, worshippers waited to pay their final respects.
The Pope's coffin entered St. Peter’s Basilica for the last
time at around 10:33 am Ugandan time, amidst hymns being played out and bells ringing.
“Pope Francis's body is now inside St Peter's Basilica,
where he will be lying in state until his funeral on Saturday,” BBC reported
A service will be held before the public is
allowed to enter to say a final goodbye. The Saint Peter Basilica will remain open till midnight today to enable people to pay their respects and reopen tomorrow as well as Friday for the same.
Cardinals and other priests are currently paying their respects to Pope Francis.
Pope Francis is in an open Coffin, dressed in a red robe with
a Papal mitre on his head and rosary in his hand.
According to a statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Pauline Chapel, which houses the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, as he requested in his Spiritual Testament.
Several World leaders, including US President Donald
Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron, and
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, among others, confirmed their attendance at the Pope's funeral on Saturday.
Others that including the Royals and dignitaries, are expected to travel to the Vatican to attend the funeral.
On Easter Monday, the Vatican announced the passing of Pope
Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion
Catholics worldwide.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at 7:35 am local time,
marking the end of a historic papacy that touched millions across the globe.
According to the statement from the Vatican, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, ascertained that the Pope died due to a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
