2 weeks Ago By USA TODAY
Throngs of mourners are lining St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to pay their final respects to Pope Francis , whose body is lying in state in an open coffin ahead of funeral and burial services in the coming days . The body of Francis, who died Easter Monday at 88 from a stroke and irreversible heart failure, was carried Wednesday morning, April 23, from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City, through St.
Peter's Square and into the adjacent basilica. Fronted by the Swiss Guard , cardinals and other church leaders led the slow procession into the sunlit esplanade as a male choir chanted psalms and prayers in Latin and the great bells of the basilica tolled. The solemn procession came after the Vatican released the first photos showing the pope dressed in his vestments and laid in a wooden coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy.
A public visitation is now underway as massive crowds of faithful gather to pay respects to Francis. Watch live from St. Peter's Basilica at the video at the top of the story.
Live updates: Pope Francis' body taken to St. Peter's Basilica for lying in state When is Pope Francis ' funeral? A funeral for Pope Francis will then be held at 10 a.m.
local time (4 a.m. ET) Saturday, April 26 in St.
Peter's Square – a solemn ceremony sure to draw leaders from around the world. President Donald Trump , who clashed repeatedly with the pope about immigration, has already announced he will attend the funeral in Rome with first lady Melania Trump . Among other heads of state set to attend were Javier Milei, president of Francis' native Argentina, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Reuters reported, citing a source in his office.
Where will Pope Francis be buried? Francis confirmed in his final testament released on Monday that he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, instead of in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, where many of pope's predecessors were laid to rest. The wish represents a break in tradition, making him the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
Francis had also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket. Contributing: John Bacon , Thao Nguyen , Jorge L. Ortiz , USA TODAY; Reuters Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY.
Reach him at [email protected] This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Livestream: Pope Francis lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.
