The body of Pope Francis has been placed in St. Peter’s Basilica from today, allowing faithful from across the globe to offer their final tributes. His remains will remain on display until the day of the funeral, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 1:30 PM IST. The funeral rites will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
According to the Pope’s personal wishes, his final resting place will be the crypt beneath the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Until the public viewing began, his body had been kept in a simple wooden coffin at the chapel of the Santa Marta residence where he lived.
The Vatican released Pope Francis’ spiritual will, penned on June 29, 2022. In it, he acknowledged the nearing end of his life with the words, “The sunset of my life is approaching.” He requested a simple burial, with no elaborate decorations on his tomb. The only inscription on his grave, written in Latin, will be the name “Franciscus.”
In accordance with papal tradition, the red ribbon-sealed doors of his residence at Santa Marta have been symbolically closed, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who was also tasked with destroying the papal ring and initiating the papal conclave process. The conclave, involving 138 cardinals, will take place in the Sistine Chapel within 15 to 20 days in strict confidentiality.
The Vatican has also updated its official website, removing Pope Francis’ name and image. It now displays the message “Apostolic See Vacant,” signifying the official vacancy of the papal seat. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis passed away due to a stroke and cardiac arrest.
