The body of Francis will lie in state inside St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday until his funeral on Saturday morning.
The Pope’s funeral Mass will likely be held at 10:00am in St Peter’s Square. Until then, members of the general public will have the ability to pay their respects at St Peter’s.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside on the Mass, which will likely be joined by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is “likely” to attend, in keeping with media reports.
Following his funeral and according to his wishes, Francis will likely be laid to rest in St Mary Major, one in all the 4 major papal basilicas in Rome and a spot where he often prayed.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday after a period of ill-health that saw him hospitalised for several weeks in February. Nonetheless his death still got here as a shock to many, coming lower than 24 hours after his final public appearance in St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
Despite being considerably weakened, he rode through the square in his popemobile in a remarkable final act of service, interacting with the crowds and saying a number of words from the balcony of St Peter’s.
The Vatican said that amongst his final words were a “thanks” to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, for encouraging him to take one last ride within the popemobile.
“Thank you for bringing me back to the square,” he was reported as saying.
The Pope’s reason for death was confirmed as a stroke and heart failure.
The College of Cardinals has now entered right into a period of prayer, reflection and preparation following his death.
The ceremonial transfer of the Pope’s body from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica will happen on Wednesday.
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