Pope Francis' Body to Lie in State at St. Peter's Basilica Following His Passing
Two days after the death of Pope Francis, his body will be publicly displayed in St. Peter's Basilica. In a solemn ceremony, he will be transferred from the Vatican guesthouse, the Domus Sanctae Marthae (House of Saint Martha), to the basilica at 9 am. There, he will lie in state for three days until the grand memorial service on Saturday, which will be followed by his burial.
Until Friday, mourners will have the opportunity to bid farewell to Francis at his open coffin in St. Peter's Basilica, with expectations that tens of thousands will do so. According to the Vatican, the church will be open on Wednesday from 11 am until midnight, Thursday from 7 am until midnight, and on Friday from 7 am until 7 pm.
Reflecting Pope Francis' desire for simplicity, the ceremony is designed to be less elaborate than those of his predecessors. Unlike Pope Benedict XVI, who was displayed on a raised catafalque, Francis will be in a simple wooden coffin. Additionally, the papal bishops' staff, a symbol of authority, will not be placed next to the coffin. The coffin will be carried through the main portal into the cathedral.
The ceremony will conclude with a word service led by Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, the papal chamberlain. The schedule for these events was established by the College of Cardinals, the group of cardinals currently in Rome, who are now responsible for the leadership of the Catholic Church.
Until now, the wooden coffin had rested in the chapel of Santa Marta, where Francis lived during his papacy. Only a limited number of individuals, including curial members, cardinals, and on Tuesday evening, Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, have been able to bid farewell to Francis in person.
On Easter Monday morning, Francis, who had served as the leader of the Catholic Church for over twelve years, passed away after battling severe pneumonia. The official causes of death were recorded as a stroke and irreversible heart failure. Pope Francis was 88 years old.
Related Sources: