Pope Francis’ body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 23, allowing mourners to pay their final respects.
The late pope, who died Monday, April 21, will lie in state in an open casket for the next few days until his funeral is held on Saturday, April 26.
The Vatican confirmed that over 20,000 gathered at St. Peter’s Square to watch the pope’s coffin being transported from his residence at Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica. The church will remain open until midnight local time on Wednesday and Thursday, April 24, to allow people to mourn the pope.
On Friday, April 25, visiting hours will end at 7 p.m. and the pope’s coffin will be sealed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, at 8 p.m. ahead of his funeral the following day.
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The pope’s funeral will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re on Saturday. He will then be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Francis will be the first pope in over a century not to be buried in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica, per BBC News.
Pope Francis previously explained his burial place of choice, telling a Mexican broadcaster in 2023, “It’s my great devotion. The place is already prepared,” per the Associated Press. He will be buried near a statue of the Virgin Mary on display in the basilica.
According to Reuters, Pope Francis confirmed in his final testament that he wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” and with the inscription of his name in Latin, Franciscus.
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The Vatican announced the pope’s death via a social media statement on Monday, just one day after he made an Easter Sunday appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta,” the announcement read.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement of his own, “His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
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Farrell, 77, added, “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God.”
Pope Francis’ death came after several recent health battles. He was hospitalized with bronchitis back in February and later developed double pneumonia and bronchospasm. On Monday, The New York Times revealed the pope’s cause of death was a cerebral stroke followed by a coma and “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
