In a moving and solemn ceremony, the body of Pope Francis was carried in an open casket from his Vatican residence to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, as mourners gathered to honor the late pontiff.
The 88-year-old pope passed away two days ago at the Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke.
His body, draped in traditional papal vestments, was borne on a wooden platform by 14 pallbearers dressed in black suits and white gloves.
Cardinals in red, priests, friars holding candles, and Swiss Guards in ceremonial helmets formed a solemn procession through the sunlit esplanade of the Vatican.
As they made their way into the basilica, a male choir chanted psalms and Latin prayers, while the bells of St. Peter’s tolled mournfully.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow we now accompany the mortal remains of our Pope Francis to the Vatican Basilica,” announced Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish-American prelate, at the start of the service.
As the procession crossed St. Peter’s Square, thousands of faithful lining the route broke into prolonged applause a traditional gesture of reverence in Italy.
Pope Francis had been in fragile health for months, including a five-week hospital stay earlier this year for treatment of double pneumonia.
He made his last public appearance just days before his death, surprising pilgrims on Sunday with a drive through the square in his white popemobile.
His body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday evening, giving the public an opportunity to pay their respects.
“He felt like a member of the family someone who made the Church welcoming and inclusive for everyone,” said Rachel McKay, a pilgrim from Britain, who was among the crowd in the square.
The funeral is scheduled for Saturday and is expected to draw a global audience, with dignitaries and world leaders in attendance. U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently clashed with Pope Francis on social and political issues, is among those confirmed to attend.
Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the European Union, and the pope’s native Argentina have also announced their presence.
According to Italy’s civil protection chief, Fabio Ciciliano, at least 200,000 people are expected to attend the outdoor funeral service.
