Pope Francis newest: First mourners view Pontiff’s coffin at St Peter’s Basilica as 1000’s queue outdoors
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.
How Francis used social media to craft his image as the ‘People’s Pope’
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
If you’re just joining us: procession and Lithurgy re-capped
• 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
Pope Francis and Justin Welby met to celebrate ties in 2016
Ceremony to close Pope’s coffin on Friday night
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
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
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.
Source: independent.co.uk
