Today, the world mourns the loss of a great leader as Pope Francis’ body was transferred from Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica in a moving ceremony. The College of Cardinals gathered in Rome, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, to pay their respects.
The ceremony began with a prayer in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where the Holy Father spent his final years. Cardinal Farrell expressed gratitude for the fruits of Pope Francis’ pontificate, which served the Church with dedication and closeness for over a decade.
As the coffin was carried through Piazza Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Square, over 20,000 people waited in silence. A soft ovation broke the stillness, a respectful farewell to their beloved pastor.
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the coffin was placed in front of the Altar of Confession. The choir sang the Litany of the Saints in Latin as the faithful prayed for the Pope’s soul. The Gospel of John was proclaimed, and the traditional Marian hymn, Salve Regina, was sung.
Cardinals paid their respects to the Holy Father, followed by thousands of faithful who filed through the Basilica. The Basilica will be open for visitation until midnight on Wednesday and from 7:00 a.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday.
Funeral Details
Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and attended by representatives of the Church from around the world.
After the celebration, the body will be transferred to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial, fulfilling the Pope’s Marian wish.
Closing of the Coffin
On Friday, April 25, at 8:00 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell will preside over the closing of Pope Francis’ coffin. Important ecclesiastical figures will participate in this solemn ceremony.
