Pope Francis’ body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing

Catholic cardinals performed the ritual ceremony on Wednesday to transfer Pope Francis body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St Peter s Basilica to offer three days of residents viewing before his funeral Cardinal Kevin Farrell who is running the Vatican administration until Francis' successor is elected presided over the ceremony in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived A choir sang as cardinals wearing their red cassocks and capes stood in prayer Francis' casket was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where he greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before in what would be his final goodbye POPE FRANCIS TO LIE IN STATE MOURNERS WELCOME WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PONTIFF'S FUNERALPallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican's archway gates and out into St Peter's Square and into the basilica The cardinals and the Swiss Guards processed slowly behind Ordinary faithful filled St Peter s Square to watch the procession enter the basilica Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St Peter s Square but the three days of community viewing are largely for ordinary Catholics to pay their respects to the pontiff The basilica is being kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday The general mourning period will end on Friday at p m when Francis' casket will be closed and sealed The funeral has been set for Saturday at a m in St Peter s Square Leaders from around the world including U S President Donald Trump Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy and Argentine President Javier Milei will attend the funeral for the pope who was born in Argentina FIRST PHOTOS PUBLISHED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAYInside the basilica Francis' casket will not be put on an elevated bier like with past popes Instead it will just be placed on the main altar of the th-century basilica absolutely facing the pews Cardinals continue to meet this week to plan the conclave to elect the next pope and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church Francis died Monday morning at the age of after suffering a stroke that landed him in a coma and resulted in his heart failure His death marked the end of his -year papacy as the th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church The pope who suffered from chronic lung ailment and had part of one lung removed when he was younger spent days in Rome's Gemelli hospital starting on Feb to treat a respiratory dilemma that developed into double pneumonia He was still recovering when he made his last population appearance on Sunday delivering an Easter blessing and what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile The pope also met with U S Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta In his final will Francis substantiated he would be buried at St Mary Major basilica which is located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary The Associated Press contributed to this statement