Pope Francis I’s body will be moved this afternoon from its current private resting place to kickstart the solemn process of public grieving ahead of his funeral this weekend.
Tens of thousands of worshippers have flocked to Rome this week following the Pontiff’s death at age 88 on Monday, with Vatican officials deciding on Tuesday that his funeral will be held this coming Saturday. The public sendoff – set to be attended by world leaders like Donald Trump and Volodymr Zelensky – will take place after the Catholic Church leader has lain in state for three days.
The process starts this morning, when his body will be taken from the chapel of Saint Martha House, his Vatican residence where it has lain since Tuesday, and placed in St Peter’s Basilica. His body will remain there until Saturday, when it will be carried via public funeral procession to St Mary Major, a chapel in central Rome the Pope frequented throughout his life.
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