Pope Francis’s coffin has arrived at St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewings for the next three days.
The solemn procession to the basilica marked the start of a three-day period for the faithful to pay their respects ahead of Saturday’s funeral mass. Pope Francis’ funeral mass will be held at 10am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the mass, joined by clergy from around the world.
World leaders, cardinals and crowds of pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral.
The Prince of Wales will join the likes of US president Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky to pay their respects to the pontiff, who died aged 88 on Monday.
He is said to have shown the first signs of sudden illness two hours before passing, according to the Vatican news outlet, which reported he made a gesture of farewell with his hand to his nurse before falling into a coma.
His death came after he was hospitalised with double pneumonia for several weeks in February, before he returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recover.
Read More
The world pays tribute to Pope Francis
- Pope Francis’ body arrived in St Peter’s Basilica and public viewing begins for three days
- Cardinals prepare for conclave as world mourns Pope Francis
- Who is currently in charge of the Vatican?
- Trump, Starmer and Prince William among global dignitaries to attend funeral
Live: Pope Francis' coffin moved to St Peter's Basilica for public viewing
10:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
Public queuing to see Pope lying in state
10:08
,
Steffie Banatvala
The public have started filing in to St Peter’s Basilica to see the Pope’s coffin.
Today is the first of three days of public viewing ahead of the funeral on Saturday.
In pictures: the Lithurgy of the Word
10:04
,
Steffie Banatvala
How does a new pope get chosen?
10:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Why Francis will be first Pope buried outside Vatican in 120 years?
09:35
,
Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a location that reflects his humble approach to the grand office.
Breaking with tradition, the pontiff has chosen a burial site outside the Vatican - the first pope to do so in 120 years.
Justin Welby on his relationship with Pope Francis
09:29
,
Sam Rkaina
Justin Welby has spoken about his relationship with the late Pope Francis, and the support he provided over the years.
Writing exclusively for The Independent, he said: “Francis was someone who made people want to know God – and God’s love – as he did. He was not perfect, but he was passionate for God.
“He was supremely relational – regardless of status – and he lived out his call for the shepherd to be close to the sheep.
“He saw those who sought, however poorly and fallibly, to follow Christ as brothers and sisters. Whether they were in prisons or palaces, slums or stadiums, made no difference.”
In pictures: Cardinals arrived to mourn Pope Francis
09:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
Liturgy concludes
09:12
,
Steffie Banatvala
A choir is singing to mark the end of the process, as Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell has finished the Liturgy of the Word.
Sections of the bible were also read, with occasional responses from the congregation, and the Lord’s Prayer sung in Latin.
Incense 'purifies' Pope's body
09:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cardinal Kevin Farrell has sprinkled the late Pope’s body with holy water and purified it with incense.
The tradition references the birth of Christ where one of the three wise men gifted incense.
The cardinal will next read from the gospel.
Procession nearing conclusion
08:56
,
Steffie Banatvala
The transference of Pope Francis's coffin to St Peter’s is almost over.
The Liturgy of the Word, made of bible readings, is the next part of the Catholic mass.
The public will be able to view the Pope in just over an hour.
In pictures: Pope Francis' body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica
08:54
,
Steffie Banatvala
Live: Mass for Pope Francis held in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre
08:50
,
Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis' body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica
08:41
,
Steffie Banatvala
The procession carrying Pope Francis's coffin has just entered St Peter's Basilica.
Each saint will now be called by song to pray for Pope Francis.
In pictures: the procession
08:36
,
Steffie Banatvala
Procession reaches St Peter's Square
08:33
,
Steffie Banatvala
The Pope’s coffin has been carried under the great tower of the bells and the procession is moving towards crowds in St Peter's Square.
Only singing and bells tolling can be heard as the crowds remain silent.
Italian president among first to pay respects
08:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Italian President Sergio Mattarella paid his respects to Pope Francis yesterday at the Santa Marta residence at the Vatican.
“I learned with great personal sorrow the news of the death of Pope Francis, feeling the serious void that is created with the loss of the point of reference that he has always represented for me,” Mattarella said, adding that his teaching touched on peace and international cooperation.
The Lateran Treaty designated the Vatican City State in 1929 and it set out a relationship between the Italian State and the Catholic Church.
In pictures: St Peter's fills up as Pope's body moved from Vatican
08:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
Simon Calder: What tourists can expect from visiting Rome and the Vatican
08:03
,
Andy Gregory
Visitors to Vatican praise late Pope as ‘a great friend to all’
07:47
,
Andy Gregory
Visitors to St Peter’s Basilica have praised the late Pope as “a great friend to all” who “spread a positive message”, in remarks to the Associated Press.
“For me, Pope Francis represents a great pastor, as well as a great friend to all of us,” said Micale Sales, who was visiting St Peter’s Basilica from Brazil.
Amit Kukreja, from Australia, said: “I think he spread a positive message around the world, saying there shouldn’t be any violence, there should be peace around the world.”
Pilgrims gather outside St Peter's Basilica
07:28
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Pilgrims have begun arriving at St Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis’ body is set to lie in state from Wednesday through Friday, giving the public a chance to pay their final respects.
A major security operation is underway in Rome ahead of Saturday’s funeral, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners and over 150 foreign delegations, including world leaders such as Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Sir Keir Starmer.
The outdoor service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, with Francis to be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major, in accordance with his wishes.
Who will attend Pope Francis’ funeral? Trump, Starmer and Prince William among global dignitaries
07:19
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
A large array of world leaders, cardinals and hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
It is set to start at 9am UK time in St Peter’s Square after a three-day-period of lying in state where the public can pay tribute to the Pope.
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.
Pope Francis, 88, died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican announced.
The pope was hospitalised for several weeks in February after suffering from double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recover.
Here’s who we know is coming so far:
Royal Families
- UK Prince of Wales - on behalf of the King
- Belgium King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
- Spain King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
- EU President Ursula von der Leyen
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- Switzerland President Karin Keller-Sutter
- Poland President Andrzej Duda
- Germany President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Italy President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Latvia President Edgars Rinkevics
- Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda
- Romania Interim President Ilie Bolojan
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
- Argentina President Javier Milei
- US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
- Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula da Silva
- East Timor - President Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito Freitas
World leaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would not attend the funeral.
When is Pope Francis’ funeral? Timeline and what to expect from Vatican ceremony
07:13
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Since Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, leaders from around the world have shared their tributes to the late pontiff, as 1.39 billion Catholics across the globe enter mourning.
Cardinals congregated the following day to establish the date of the funeral ahead of the papal conclave in which a new pope will be selected.
The pontiff had broken from tradition as he requested to be buried outside of Vatican grounds at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
Nevertheless, the mourning process is set to keep in with centuries worth of tradition, including the Novemdiales - or nine days of mourning - which allegedly dates back to Roman times.
Pope Francis, 88, died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican announced.
In Photos: Thousands wait outside St Peter's Basilica to see Pope Francis in state
06:52
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Pope Francis asked for simple funeral ‘of a pastor’
06:13
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Pope Francis’ funeral will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the official liturgical guide for papal funerals, first published in 2000 and revised by Francis just last year.
According to Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of apostolic ceremonies, Francis aimed to “simplify and adapt” the rites so that the papal funeral is “that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful person in this world”.
Pope Francis’ body has arrived at St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewings from 11am today.
Pope Francis’ funeral mass will be held at 10.00am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
Vatican prepares for conclave after Pope Francis’ death
06:02
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
With Pope Francis’ death on Monday, the spotlight now shifts to the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will vote in the conclave to choose his successor.
108 of the eligible cardinals were appointed by Francis, setting the stage for a successor who may follow his progressive, pastoral path.
The 88-year-old pontiff will be laid to rest Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, with a public funeral expected to draw world leaders and tens of thousands of mourners.
Conclave is expected to begin about two weeks after his death. Once the cardinals reach a decision, white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel will signal to the world: a new pope has been chosen.
Who could be the next Pope? The cardinals who might succeed the head of the Catholic Church
05:44
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The death of Pope Francis on Monday sets in motion a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths, performed by the cardinals who will elect his successor.
The process of electing a new Pope is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world what happens in the conclave, which takes place within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel.
The pontiff’s age, along with his health concerns in recent years – including his recent complex lung infection – led to questions being asked well before his death about who would succeed him.
As is always the case, in the months and years prior to the death of a pope, a selection of candidates known as papabile emerge as the frontrunners to become the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Read the full story here:
Who is currently in charge of the Vatican?
05:35
,
Athena Stavrou
As the Catholic Church enters the “sede vacante”, Cardinal Kevin Farrell is overseeing the Holy See’s administrative and financial duties in the absence of a pope.
Cardinal Farrell was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin. He became an ordained priest in 1978, serving for almost 40 years before Francis made him a cardinal in 2016.
He is the Camerlengo of the Church, meaning that he is in charge while the conclave takes place.
Pope Francis’ body arrives in St Peter’s Basilica where public viewing set to begin
05:21
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Pope Francis’ body has arrived at St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewings from 11am today.
The solemn procession to the basilica marked the start of a three-day period for the faithful to pay their respects ahead of Saturday’s funeral mass.
According to the Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica “will remain open for the faithful who wish to pay their respects to the late Pope on Wednesday from 11am to midnight; on Thursday from 7.00am to midnight; and on Friday from 7.00am to 7.00pm”.
Pope Francis’ funeral mass will be held at 10.00am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the mass, joined by clergy from around the world.
Viewership of Conclave soars 283% after Pope Francis’ death
04:54
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Following the death of Pope Francis, viewership of the Oscar-winning film Conclave — which dramatises the secretive election of a new pope — surged by 283 per cent, with 6.9 million minutes streamed on the day of his death, according to data from Luminate.
The film, starring Ralph Fiennes and based on Robert Harris’ novel, explores the Vatican’s behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring and earned eight Oscar nominations, including a win for Best Adapted Screenplay.
On Sunday, the film was watched for 1.8 million minutes. The day news of the Pope’s death broke, the film was watched for 6.9 million minutes, Luminate, which tracks viewership of streaming content, said.
As of today, April 22, the film has joined the Prime catalogue. For those already subscribed to Prime Video, the movie will come at no additional cost and will be included as part of their membership. Viewers who want to watch the film for free will be able to secure a free 30-day trial and enjoy it that way.
A look at the coming weeks:
04:41
,
Athena Stavrou
The death of Pope Francis has set in motion weeks of millennia-old processes in the lead up to the next Pontiff being elected.
Here is a look at what we can expect in the coming days:
- On Tuesday, the Pope’s body was pictured in Casa Santa Marta, his former residence.
- On Wednesday, the Pope’s open casket will go on public display at St Peter's Basilica for mourners to pay their respects.
- On Saturday morning, his funeral will take place in St Peter’s Square.
- He will be buried in St Mary Major, becoming the first pope in over 100 years to not be buried in Vatican grounds.
- After the service, there will be a nine-day period of mourning.
- On May 5, cardinals will gather in the Vatican to begin the conclave - where a new pope will be elected.
- The cardinals are not allowed contact with the outside world during the election, which could take days.
Cardinals prepare for conclave as world mourns Pope Francis
04:32
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Around 60 cardinals met on Tuesday to finalise funeral plans for Pope Francis, with the conclave to choose the next pope expected to begin on 6 May.
No clear frontrunner has emerged, though speculation points to reformist Luis Antonio Tagle and Italy’s Pietro Parolin.
In the interim, Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in his role as camerlengo (chamberlain), oversees the day-to-day affairs of the Vatican.
Trump and Prince William to be among funeral attendees
04:08
,
Athena Stavrou
A large array of world leaders, cardinals and hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
Those confirmed to be attending already include the Prince of Wales, on behalf of his father, King Charles.
US president Donald Trump and the first lady Melania have also said they will be attending.
They will be joined by other royal families and world leaders including Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Pope Francis’ body to lie in state before Saturday funeral
04:04
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday.
Tens of thousands are expected to pay their respects before his funeral on Saturday, attended by world leaders including Donald Trump.
Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, EU institutions, and Francis’ home nation of Argentina also confirmed their presence.
Pope Francis asked to be buried in St Mary Major with just “Franciscus” inscribed on his tomb.
