Catholic cardinals performed a ritual ceremony to transfer Pope Francis’ body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing before his funeral. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is currently overseeing the Vatican administration until Francis’ successor is elected. The procession, consisting of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards, escorted Francis’ casket through St. Peter’s Square into the basilica. The public viewing allowed ordinary Catholics to pay their respects to the pontiff before his funeral on Saturday, which is expected to be attended by heads of state from around the world.
The basilica will remain open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday for public viewing, with the mourning period coming to an end on Friday at 7 p.m. when Francis’ casket will be closed and sealed. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, with leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy, and Argentine President Javier Milei set to attend. Inside the basilica, Francis’ casket will be placed on the main altar, facing the pews rather than being elevated on a bier like past popes.
Cardinals are meeting this week to plan the conclave to elect the next pope and make decisions about running the Catholic Church following Francis’ death at the age of 88. The pope had suffered a stroke leading to heart failure, marking the end of his 12-year papacy as the 266th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to his death, Francis spent 38 days in the hospital treating a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Despite his health struggles, he made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, delivering a blessing and greeting followers from his popemobile.
In his final will, Francis confirmed his wish to be buried at St. Mary Major basilica outside the Vatican, home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary. The public outpouring of mourning and respect for the pope reflects his significant impact on the Catholic Church and the worldwide community. The process of selecting a new pope and continuing the work of leading the Church is now underway, as Cardinals work to plan the next steps following the loss of Pope Francis. His legacy, teachings, and presence will be remembered by Catholics and people of faith around the world, as his passing marks the end of an era in the history of the Catholic Church.
