Pope Francis’ body lies in state at St Peter’s ahead of funeral
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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis’ body will be moved to St Peter’s Basilica on April 23 to allow the Catholic faithful to pay their final respects ahead of a funeral expected to bring US President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders to Rome.
Pope Francis, a ground-breaking reformer, died at the age of 88 on April 21 from a stroke and cardiac arrest, ending an often-turbulent 12-year reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised.
His body, lying in an open casket, was set to be taken from the chapel of the Vatican residence where he lived to St Peter’s, entering through the central door, in a grand procession starting at 9am, accompanied by cardinals and Latin chants.
After a religious service, the faithful and the general public will be allowed to visit the late pontiff until 7pm on April 25, with a funeral scheduled for the next morning.
The service will be outdoors, in St Peter’s Square, and due to be led by the dean of the college of cardinals, 91-year-old Giovanni Battista Re. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.
Mr Trump, who clashed repeatedly with the Pope on immigration, will be accompanied by first lady Melania. Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, European Union institutions and Pope Francis’ home nation of Argentina also confirmed their presence.
Conclave not for another two weeks
Pope Francis had asked to be buried in St Mary Major, a Roman basilica he was particularly attached to, rather than in St Peter’s like many of his predecessors, with a simple inscription of his name in Latin, Franciscus.
On April 22, the Vatican released images of the Pope in his casket, dressed in his vestments, holding a rosary, with Swiss Guards standing alongside. Dignitaries, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Jewish leaders, came to visit.
His death came as a relative surprise, as he had appeared in public on the previous day, although he had still looked frail after double pneumonia and a five-week hospital stay that had ended on March 23. With his passing, ancient rituals have been set in motion.
About 60 cardinals gathered on April 22 to decide on funeral plans, with more meetings planned in the coming days on other urgent business. The conclave, which will choose the new pope, is not expected to start before May 6.
There is no clear front runner to succeed Pope Francis, although British bookmakers have singled out Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a compromise choice from Italy, as early favourites.
In the meantime, in the period known as the “sede vacante” (vacant seat) for the global Catholic Church, a cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain), Irish-American Kevin Farrell, is in charge of ordinary affairs. REUTERS
