Pope Francis’s coffin is being transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days, allowing thousands to honor the late pontiff before his funeral on Saturday.
Francis passed away on Monday at age 88, succumbing to a stroke and cardiac arrest in Casa Santa Marta, his residence throughout his 12-year tenure as pope.
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This morning, a procession featuring liturgical rites, psalms, and prayers will accompany his body to St. Peter’s Basilica. His unadorned wooden coffin will enter through the basilica’s main entrance and be positioned in front of the Altar of the Confession.
The funeral on Saturday is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, along with numerous global dignitaries. Among those expected to attend are President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Tánaiste Simon Harris.
Following the ceremony, Pope Francis’s coffin will be transported to his cherished Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome’s papal basilica, where it will be laid to rest with a modest inscription: “Franciscus.” This marks the first time in over a century that a pope will be buried outside the Vatican.
Italy is gearing up for a significant security effort ahead of the funeral, compounded by an already busy weekend due to the public holiday on Friday, April 25. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi noted that authorities anticipate 150 to 170 foreign delegations and tens of thousands of attendees.
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