Pope Francis's Coffin Moved to St. Peter's Basilica... Three Days of Public Mourning

Public Mourning Continues Until the Night of the 25th
Funeral Mass to Be Held at 10 a.m. on the 26th in St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis's coffin was transported to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on April 23 (local time), marking the beginning of three days of public mourning for laypeople.

According to Vatican News on this day, the coffin containing Pope Francis's body was moved from the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica in the morning.

People gathered in front of Pope Francis's funeral procession. Photo by AFP

The funeral procession was presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Cardinal Farrell began the ceremony with a brief prayer for the Pope's soul at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.

After the Pope passed away on April 21, the College of Cardinals, who had gathered in Rome, led the procession through Santa Marta Square, the Bell Arch, and St. Peter's Square, finally arriving at St. Peter's Basilica. According to local media, about 20,000 faithful who had gathered in St. Peter's Square to pay their respects watched the procession in solemn applause.

As the Pope's coffin was placed in front of the altar, the choir's hymns filled the basilica. After the ceremony concluded and the College of Cardinals paid their respects to the Pope, public mourning for laypeople began at 11 a.m. The basilica will remain open until midnight on this day.

On April 24, the public will be allowed to pay their respects from 7 a.m. to midnight, and on April 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Pope's funeral Mass will be solemnly held at 10 a.m. on April 26 in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. After the public mourning concludes, the Pope's coffin containing his remains will be sealed.

Following the funeral Mass, the coffin will be transported back to St. Peter's Basilica and then interred, according to his will, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

The Pope left a will requesting that he be buried in a simple tomb in the crypt of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, with only his papal name inscribed in Latin and without any special decorations.