Pope Francis' body moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing
VATICAN CITY - The public was invited to pay their final respects on Wednesday to Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis’ body will lie in state in the basilica until Saturday’s funeral and burial.
Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica
What we know:
Earlier on Wednesday, the bells of St. Peter’s tolled as Francis’ body was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica. The body was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where the pontiff had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before on Easter Sunday in what became his final good-bye.
A general view as the body of Pope Francis is transferred to the Basilica at St Peter’s Square on April 23, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Then, thousands of people quickly began lining up and filing past Francis' body to say goodbye.
Timeline:
There will be three days of public viewing in the basilica to allow Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke.
Pope Francis: His life and legacy
Funeral arrangements have been set for Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pope from Argentina, who died early Monday. Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88. He had been recovering in his apartment after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia. He made his last public appearance on Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and making what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile, looping around St. Peter's Square. He also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday. Francis died of a cerebral stroke, the Vatican said. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican’s health department, said that the stroke put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure. In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary. Before and after every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book. U.S. President Donald Trump announced he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend Saturday’s funeral, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected. The first images of Francis' body were released Tuesday, showing him in the wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop’s miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived and died. Public viewing will begin on Wednesday, the Vatican said. Word on Fire's Matt Petrusek joins LiveNOW's Andrew Craft to discuss the legacy Pope Francis leaves behind.
The basilica was being kept open until midnight to accommodate the crowds, a mourning period that will end on Friday at 7 p.m. local time, when Francis' casket is closed and sealed.
The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
Pope Francis’ funeral and burial
What's next:
Several heads of state are expected to attend Francis' funeral on Saturday, which will begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), including President Donald Trump.
Francis said he wants to be buried not in St. Peter’s Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St. Mary Major Basilica across town. His choice reflected his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (or, Salvation of the people of Rome).
The Source: This story was reported using information provided by the Vatican, the Associated Press, and live video from St. Peter's Basilica on April 23, 2025. It was reported from Cincinnati, and the AP contributed.