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.
Thousands queued into the evening on Wednesday to pay their respects ahead of Saturday’s funeral mass.
World leaders, cardinals and crowds of pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral, which will be held at 10am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
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.
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The world pays tribute to Pope Francis
- Tens of thousands queuing to pay respects
- Pope Francis’ body arrives in St Peter’s Basilica
- Who is currently in charge of the Vatican?
- Trump, Starmer and Prince William among global dignitaries to attend funeral
Where will Pope Francis be buried?
22:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis chose St Mary Major as his resting place, about 4 km from the Vatican.
It marks a break from tradition as most popes were buried in Vatican grounds - the last pope not to be was in 1903.
The basilica was important to the Pope because it was his favourite place to pray. He prayed there before and after every international trip.
“I've always had a great devotion to St Mary Major, even before I became pope,” he wrote in his 2024 book El Sucesor.
JD Vance plays down political differences with Pope
21:31
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Athena Stavrou
JD Vance has played down his political differences between the Trump administration and the late Pope Francis, after he died the day after their brief meeting.
The US president said he reflected on the fact that he was one of the last officials to meet Pope Francis,
"It's pretty crazy, actually. And obviously, when I saw him, I didn't know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth. I think it was a great blessing," Vance told journalists. "I was lucky that I got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every day, because ... I did, and I do."
The pope was a sharp critic of Donald Trump's immigration policies, calling them a disgrace shortly before his inauguration in January.
"I'm aware that he had some disagreements with some of the policies of our administration. He also had a lot of agreements with some of the policies of our administration," Vance said.
"I'm not going to soil ... the man's legacy by talking about politics. I think he was a great Christian pastor, and that's how I choose to remember the Holy Father."
In pictures: Pope Francis lies in state with thousands lining up
21:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Italian footballers observe a minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis
20:29
,
Athena Stavrou
Israeli opposition MP 'ashamed' there was no offocial condolence
20:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Opposition MP Gilad Kariv has said he is “ashamed” there was no official condolences expressed over Pope Francis’ death.
“I’m ashamed by the fact that the Israeli government and the Israeli Knesset did not release an official message of condolences. I’m here in order to express my condolences on behalf of the vast majority of Israeli citizens,” Kariv said on a visit to the central Catholic Church in Jerusalem.
It comes after a condolence message was posted then quickly deleted by the Israeli government.
The Independent has reached out to the Israeli embassy in London and Israel’s foreign ministry for comment. It has not yet received a response.
'We've got plenty of issues to focus on in the US' - Vance on approach of next pope
19:54
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Athena Stavrou
JD Vance declined to give his opinion on whether the next pope should follow in Pope Francis' progressive footsteps or take a more traditional approach.
"I won't pretend to give guidance to the Cardinals on who they should select as the next pope. We've got plenty of issues to focus on in the United States," the US vice president told Journalists.
"I'll just say a prayer for wisdom, because I obviously want them to pick the right person. I want them to pick somebody who will be good for the world's Catholics."
In pictures: thousands queue in St Peter's
19:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis’ body lying in state before Saturday funeral
19:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, is lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica until Friday.
Tens of thousands have already started to pay their respects before his funeral on Saturday, which will be 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.
In pictures: eight hour line as thousands pay respects to Pope Francis
18:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Public viewing to continue well into the night
18:23
,
Athena Stavrou
It is currently just past 6pm in Vatican City, where thousands of people have been waiting in line to pay their respects to Pope Francis.
Though the viewing began at 9am UK time on Wednesday morning, St Peter’s basilica is expected to remain open past midnight.
Mourners have been waiting hours to see the Pope’s open casket. They will have until Friday at 7pm to do so before his casket will be closed and sealed.
Jesuit priest reflects on 'blessing' of having Pope Francis in community
18:00
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Steffie Banatvala
For me, a small gesture in this brief video shows what kind of person Pope Francis was.
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) April 22, 2025
Last summer, Pope Francis was reported to have used an Italian-language slur for LGBTQ people and made some negative comments about gay priests. It seemed so out of character with the person… pic.twitter.com/NJpMyu6eIb
If you're just joining us: key dates
17:30
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Steffie Banatvala
23 April: Pope Francis’ coffin was transferred to St Peter’s Basilica to lie in state for three days of public viewing.
25 April: A ceremony closing the coffin will take place in the evening.
26 April: The funeral service and a nine-day mourning period will begin.
6 May 2025: The earliest date the papal conclave can begin, where cardinals vote on the next pope.
If you're just joining us: procession and Lithurgy re-capped
17:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
• The Pope’s Coffin was transferred from his Vatican residence to St Peter’s Basilica with a procession
• Each saint was called by song to pray for the late Pope
• The Liturgy of the Word, made of bible readings, then proceeded
• Cardinal Kevin Farrell sprinkled the late Pope’s body with holy water, purified it with incense then read from the gospel
• A choir sang to mark the end of the process
• Public have now started to view the body to pay respects
• Thousands of people filed into St Peter’s Square to pay their respects
• Public viewing will end on Friday and the coffin will be closed in a ceremony
In Pictures: Pope Francis remembered across the world
16:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Who are the Jesuits, Pope Francis’ religious order?
16:30
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Steffie Banatvala
Francis was the first pope elected from the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits.
Jesuits is one of the most prominent religious orders in the Catholic Church, with about 15,000 priests, brothers and novices from over 110 countries.
'Mixed Emotions' as thousands of mourners file in to St Peter's
16:15
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Steffie Banatvala
As the formal ceremony transferring the Pope’s body to the basilica ended, crowds were guided forward to give their respects.
US pilgrim Alex Lenrtz said he felt a mixture of emotions seeing the Pope’s body.
“It's just such a surreal (feeling) ... and seeing the body and just remembering everything that he stood for is very important.”
What tourists can expect in Rome, the Vatican?
16:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Pope mourned worldwide: East Timor couple reflect on papal visits
15:45
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Steffie Banatvala
A Roman Catholic couple in East Timor said they saw two popes firsthand visit their country and now they are praying they will meet Pope Francis’ successor.
“I deeply hope the new pope would visit East Timor,” Pedro de Souza, 63, told Reuters in the Timorese capital Dili.
Vatican may extend public viewing until midnight due to 'high flow'
15:37
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Steffie Banatvala
The Vatican has said it may extend visits to see Pope Francis' body until beyond midnight due to the 'high flow' of pilgrims.
It has not yet specified which days the potential extension applies to.
In pictures: mourning continues worldwide - Philippines mass
15:30
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Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis asked for simple funeral ‘of a pastor’
15:15
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Steffie Banatvala
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”.
In Pictures: Eight hour queue forms outside St. Peter's
15:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Wales-Italy rugby Six Nations match postponed
14:45
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Steffie Banatvala
Wales’ final Six Nations match against Italy has been postponed because of Pope Francis’ funeral.
They were due to play in Parma on Saturday but they will now play on Sunday at 11.30am UK time.
Israel embassies instructed 'not to lower flags'
14:30
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Steffie Banatvala
Reports suggest Israeli embassies were ordered not to lower their flags to half-mast.
It comes after an Israeli government social media post offering condolences was posted then swiftly deleted.
The Jerusalem Post cited foreign ministry officials as saying the Pope had made "statements against Israel" and that the post was published in “error”.
The Independent has contacted the Israeli embassy in London and Israel’s Foreign Ministry for comment but has not yet received a response.
If you're just joining us: key dates
14:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
23 April: Pope Francis’ coffin was transferred to St Peter’s Basilica to lie in state for three days of public viewing.
25 April: A ceremony closing the coffin will take place in the evening.
26 April: The funeral service and a nine-day mourning period will begin.
6 May 2025: The earliest date the papal conclave can begin, where cardinals vote on the next pope.
Cardinals prepare for conclave as thousands queue for Pope Francis
14:00
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Steffie Banatvala
With Pope Francis’ death on Monday, the spotlight now shifts to the 134 cardinals under the age of 80 who will vote in the conclave to choose his successor.
The majority 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.
Who is currently in charge of the Vatican?
13:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
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.
In pictures: mourning continues worldwide - Sydney Requiem Mass
13:30
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Steffie Banatvala
Dignitaries, politicians and royalty attending Pope Francis’ funeral
13:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
World leaders, royal family members, cardinals and hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
Cardinal misses conclave eligibility after just turning 80
13:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Cardinal George Alencherry from India will not be eligible to help choose the next pope as he turned 80 on 19 April, two days before the Pope died.
Vatican rules bar cardinals over 80 from voting in the conclave, which is expected to start on 5 May.
This means 134 of the 135 cardinal electors are eligible to vote on the next pope.
In pictures: thousands pay respects to Pope Francis at St Peter's
12:45
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Steffie Banatvala
Keir Starmer pays tribute to Pope Francis' 'courage and leadership'
12:30
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Steffie Banatvala
List of cardinals involved in burial released
12:09
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Steffie Banatvala
The cardinals who will take part in the Pope’s burial on Saturday have been confirmed by the Vatican.
On the list was Pietro Parolin, who was close to Francis and is thought to be one of the likely options to be the next pope.
Roger Mahoney from the US was also on the list, but no British cardinals were included.
Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re was already publically known as he will preside over the mass.
Video: Mourners pay respects as thousands queue to view Pope's open casket
12:00
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Steffie Banatvala
How Francis used social media to craft his image as the ‘People’s Pope’
11:45
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Steffie Banatvala
From papal selfies to the viral generative AI images featuring a stylish puffer jacket, Pope Francis became a prominent popular culture figure during his papacy.
News media called him the “People’s Pope”, branding that also circulated online on social media to turn Pope Francis into an icon who symbolised the progressive ideals of 2010s popular culture.
In pictures: mourners pray and cry for Pope Francis
11:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Israel shared then quickly deleted condolences
11:17
,
Steffie Banatvala
The Israeli government swiftly deleted a social media post which gave condolences over Pope Francis’ death.
While The Jerusalem Post has linked it to the Pope’s criticism of the war in Gaza, no official reason was given.
The post originally read: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing”, along with a picture of the Pope in Jerusalem.
The Independent have contacted the Israeli embassy in London and Israel’s Foreign Ministry. They have not yet responded.
If you're just joining us: procession and Lithurgy re-capped
11:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
• The Pope’s Coffin was transferred from his Vatican residence to St Peter’s Basilica with a procession
• Each saint was called by song to pray for the late Pope
• The Liturgy of the Word, made of bible readings, then proceeded
• Cardinal Kevin Farrell sprinkled the late Pope’s body with holy water, purified it with incense then read from the gospel
• A choir sang to mark the end of the process
• Public have now started to view the body to pay respects
• Thousands of people filed into St Peter’s Square to pay their respects
• Public viewing will end on Friday and the coffin will be closed in a ceremony
In pictures: transferring the Pope's coffin
11:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Pope Francis and Justin Welby met to celebrate ties in 2016
10:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ceremony to close Pope's coffin on Friday night
10:39
,
Steffie Banatvala
In its latest update, the Vatican has said the Pope’s coffin will be closed at 8pm local time on Friday.
It is currently open for public viewing and there will be a ceremony for its closure, which will likely be broadcast.
Around 20,000 crowd St Peter's Square
10:35
,
Steffie Banatvala
About 20,000 people have filed into St Peter's Square, according to estimations.
As well as the public, about 80 cardinals have arrived and 2,000 journalists have applied for accreditation to gain access to Vatican events.
'Sense of peace' at St Peter's square
10:30
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Steffie Banatvala
After this morning’s procession in St Peter’s Square, mournful crowds gathered to pay their respects to the late Pope.
“It's been a difficult time for followers of the Catholic Church seeing Pope Francis be so unwell over these past few months,” Sky News correspondent Lisa Holland said.
“So now there's a sense of peace that they can be with him to pay their respects.”
People travelled from all over - including one person who cycled a huge distance to join the line to see the Pope, Holland reported.
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
