The body of Pope Francis arrived at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, where it will lie in state until his funeral on Saturday. The Argentine pontiff, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, will be mourned by the global Catholic community and world leaders in a grand ceremony expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people.
Pope Francis died after suffering a stroke, which led to a coma and ultimately heart failure. He passed away at Casa Santa Marta, the modest residence inside the Vatican where he chose to live rather than the traditional papal apartments, reflecting his lifelong commitment to humility and simplicity.
His open wooden coffin was carried on the shoulders of pallbearers for the 500-metre procession from Casa Santa Marta to Saint Peter’s Basilica. The solemn march was led by a procession of red-robed cardinals, accompanied by the resonant toll of Saint Peter’s bells, signaling the somber occasion to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Eight Swiss Guards, the Vatican’s traditional ceremonial protectors, flanked the coffin with staffs in hand as it moved through the square, surrounded by tens of thousands of mourners and faithful. The scene was marked by reverence and deep emotion as pilgrims, clergy, and visitors from around the world paid tribute.
The procession also included priests in choir dress and cassocks, some holding candles, and groups of nuns walking in silent prayer. The coffin was gently placed at the front of Saint Peter’s Basilica, allowing the faithful to file past and pay their respects to a pope who reshaped the image of the Catholic Church through his advocacy for social justice, interfaith dialogue, and pastoral care.
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to become pope, served as the 266th head of the Catholic Church since his election in 2013. His funeral on Saturday is expected to be presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and attended by leaders and dignitaries from around the world. Flags will fly at half-mast in many nations as the world bids farewell to a transformative figure in modern Church history.
