Pope Francis' Body Lies in State, Open to Public Viewing at the Vatican

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Mourners Pay Respects as Pope Francis Lies in State

Following his death on Monday, April 21, Pope Francis’s body was moved to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 23, affording mourners the opportunity to offer their final respects. The late pontiff will lie in state in an open casket for several days preceding his funeral, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.

Vatican Opens Doors to Public

The Vatican has stated that over 20,000 people congregated in St. Peter’s Square to witness the conveyance of the Pope’s coffin from his residence at Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica will remain accessible until midnight local time on Wednesday and Thursday, April 24, to enable people to express their grief.

Funeral Arrangements Detailed

On Friday, April 25, the visiting hours will conclude at 7 p.m. Subsequently, at 8 p.m., Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, will seal the Pope’s coffin in anticipation of the funeral proceedings the following day.

Funeral Service and Burial Plans

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the Pope’s funeral on Saturday. The burial will then occur in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

• Pope Francis’s request to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major marks the first time in over a century that a Pope will not be interred in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica, according to BBC News.

Pope Francis’s Wishes Disclosed

The Pope previously expressed his preference for his burial location, stating to a Mexican broadcaster in 2023, “It’s my great devotion. The place is already prepared,” as per the Associated Press. He will be laid to rest near a statue of the Virgin Mary exhibited in the basilica.

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Reuters reports that Pope Francis explicitly stated in his last will and testament his desire to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” and with the Latin inscription, “Franciscus,” bearing his name.

Official Announcement and Tributes

The Vatican formally announced the death of the Pope Francis via a social media statement on Monday, just a day after his 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 conveyed.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell shared in his own statement, “His entire life was committed to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to embody the Gospel’s values with devotion, fortitude, and widespread compassion, notably toward the impoverished and marginalized.”

Farrell, 77, further commented, “With profound gratitude for his representation as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we entrust Pope Francis’s soul to the unwavering and compassionate love of the Triune God.”

Pope Francis’s Health Challenges

The death of Pope Francis followed a series of recent health issues. He was hospitalized with bronchitis in February and subsequently developed double pneumonia and bronchospasm. On Monday, The New York Times revealed that the Pope’s cause of death was a cerebral stroke resulting in a coma and “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”

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