Pope Francis’ body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing

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

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is moving the Vatican medication until Francis' successor is elected, presided implicit the ceremonial successful the chapel of the 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 procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards done the aforesaid piazza wherever helium greeted the faithful from his popemobile conscionable days earlier successful what would beryllium his last goodbye.

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The ceremonial with Pope Francis' body, who volition prevarication successful authorities astatine St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days, passes done the assemblage astatine the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)

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

Ordinary faithful filled St. Peter’s Square to ticker the procession participate the basilica.

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

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

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

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The ceremonial with Pope Francis' body, who volition prevarication successful authorities astatine St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days, passes done the assemblage astatine the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)

Inside the basilica, Francis' casket volition not beryllium enactment connected an elevated bier similar with past popes. Instead, it volition conscionable beryllium placed connected the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, simply facing the pews.

Cardinals proceed to conscionable this week to program the conclave to elite the adjacent pope and marque different decisions astir moving the Catholic Church.

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

The assemblage of Pope Francis is placed into St. Peter's Basilica astatine the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, wherever helium volition prevarication 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 helium was younger, spent 38 days successful Rome's Gemelli infirmary starting connected Feb. 14 to dainty a respiratory situation that developed into treble pneumonia.

He was inactive recovering erstwhile helium 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 with U.S. Vice President JD Vance connected Easter Sunday astatine the Casa Santa Marta.

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report.