Pope Francis’ body is being moved to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, where it will lie in state for three days to allow Catholic faithful to pay their final respects ahead of a funeral expected to bring a host of world Leaders. Francis, a groundbreaking reformer, died aged 88 on Monday from a stroke and cardiac arrest, ending an often turbulent 12-year reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalized.
His body, lying in an open casket, was set to be taken from the chapel of the Vatican residence where he lived to St Peter’s, with scores of Catholics and well-wishers paying their respects to the spiritual leader before he is laid to rest.
After a religious service, the general public will be allowed to visit the late pontiff until 7pm on Friday, with a funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.
Francis has asked to be buried in St Mary Major, a Roman basilica he was particularly attached to, rather than St Peter’s like many of his predecessors, with a simple inscription of his name in Latin, Franciscus. He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican.
There is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis. However, British bookmakers have singled out Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Pietro Parolin, a compromise choice from Italy, as early favorites.
In the meantime, in the period known as the “Sede Vacante” (vacant seat) for the global Catholic Church, a cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain), Irish-American Kevin Farrell, is in charge of ordinary affairs.