The earthly remains of Pope Francis were moved on Wednesday from Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body will be displayed so that the faithful can pay their final respects until the burial, which will take place on Saturday.
The ritual of moving the body of Pope Francis took place Wednesday morning in the Vatican, led by the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome following the death of the Supreme Pontiff.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, began the liturgical ritual in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta with a short prayer for the soul of Pope Francis.
In the opening prayer, Cardinal Farrell thanked God for the 12 years of pontificate of the late pope.
"As we leave this house, let us thank the Lord for the countless gifts He has bestowed on the Christian people through His servant, Pope Francis. Let us ask Him, in His mercy and kindness, to grant the late pope an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven and to bring comfort, through heavenly hope, to the papal family, the Church of Rome, and the faithful around the world," he said, as quoted by Vatican News.
Prayers and Applause
The College of Cardinals then led the procession of the coffin through Piazza Santa Marta in the Vatican, under the Bell Tower Arch, and to St. Peter's Square.
Over 20,000 people gathered in the square to pay tribute to the late pope, erupting into applause as the coffin was carried up the steps of the basilica.
The coffin was placed in front of the Altar of Confession, and the choir chanted the "Litany of the Saints" in Latin for the repose of his soul.
St. Peter's Basilica will remain open on Wednesday until midnight, then reopen on Thursday at 7:00 a.m., and remain open until midnight, and on Friday will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral liturgy of Pope Francis will take place in St. Peter's Square on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
He will be accompanied by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful from around the world who will come together to bid farewell to Pope Francis.
At the end of Saturday's liturgy, the lifeless body of the pope will be taken to St. Peter's Basilica, and then to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be buried.
What Will Happen at the Pope's Funeral
Traditionally, papal funerals are elaborate ceremonies, but Pope Francis has requested simpler instructions to be followed.
He will be the first pope in the last century not to be buried in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Francis requested to be buried in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc - unlike his predecessors, who were buried in three stacked coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak.
Dozens of world leaders, political and religious, are expected to attend the funeral, along with tens of thousands of faithful.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron have confirmed their participation, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The Prince of Wales will represent King Charles at the funeral. The king and queen had a private meeting with the pope during their recent visit to Italy.
From Romania, interim president Ilie Bolojan will be present.