The body of Pope Francis has been moved to St Peter’s Basilica, where tens of thousands of mourners will queue to file past his open casket over the next three days. Listen to the Daily podcast – on what happens now after the Pope’s death – as you scroll.
Wednesday 23 April 2025 09:54, UK
The public will be allowed into St Peter’s Basilica in just a few minutes to see the Pope’s coffin.
Crowds have packed the Vatican, and they have until midnight today to see the pontiff’s body.
Our correspondent Lisa Holland has just watched this morning’s procession in St Peter’s Square.
“It’s been a difficult time for followers of the Catholic Church seeing Pope Francis be so unwell over these past few months,” she says.
“So now there’s a sense of peace that they can be with him to pay their respects.”
Speaking to those gathered, she says itis clear that people have made considerable sacrifices to be a part of today’s proceedings.
One young man came from America for the now-suspended canonisation of the first saint of the millennial generation, Carlo Acutis.
Another woman cycled a huge distance to get in line to see the Pope.
“Whether it is just being in the square or actually queuing to try to go and personally pay their respects to Pope Francis lying in state, these people making huge strides just to be part of [it],” Holland says.
Pope Francis is now lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica.
At his request, his coffin was placed low to the ground – breaking for the first time the Vatican’s tradition to place the body of the pontiff on a catafalque.
With the arrival of Pope Francis’s coffin inside St Peter’s Basilica and the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the procession (or “translation” as it’s also known) is complete.
Those gathered will now make their way out of the basilica after filing past the pontiff – leaving the Pope to lie in state.
Public viewings of the Pope’s coffin begin at about 10am UK time.
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell has just completed the Liturgy of the Word.
He and others read from sections of the bible, met with occasional responses from the congregation.
They also sang the Lord’s Prayer in Latin.
A choir now sings to mark the end of the process.
Ahead of the Liturgy of the Word, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, sprinkled the body of Pope Francis with holy water and “purified” it with incense.
It harks back to the birth of Christ – with one of the gifts brought by the three wise men being incense.
The cardinal will now read from the gospel.
The translation – or transference of Pope Francis’s coffin to St Peter’s Basilica – is almost over.
Next is the Liturgy of the Word – which is a part of the Catholic mass made up of bible readings.
The public will be able to come and view the Pope lying in state in a little over an hour’s time.
Pope Francis’s body and the accompanying procession have just entered St Peter’s Basilica.
Each of the saints are now called, by song, to pray for Pope Francis.
There will be a prayer service before the public are allowed to enter to pay their final respects.
Our correspondent Lisa Holland is in St Peter’s Square watching the procession.
“The mood is sombre, quiet, reflective,” she says.
“Yesterday, this square was full of hustle and bustle – today couldn’t feel more different.”
The gathered faithful are being respectful, she says, with many craning their necks to get a better view of the coffin as it enters the basilica.
Many are taking photographs.
“This is a square that has said its goodbyes to so many popes over the years, but every one feels different,” Holland says.
Speaking to people queuing to see Pope Francis lying in state, the overwhelming message is one of gratitude.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to says they came to say thank you,” she says.
The Pope has just been carried under the great tower of the bells, with the procession now moving out directly in front of those gathered in St Peter’s Square.
The crowds remain silent, with the only sounds remaining singing and the bells tolling.
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