Members of the public on Wednesday
started to pay their respects to Pope Francis as his body lies
in state in St Peter's Basilica after it was transferred from
the chapel of Santa Marta, the residence inside the Vatican
where he lived, following his death at the age of 88 on Monday.
The late pontiff's remains will lie in state in the basilica
until Friday ahead of his funeral in St Peter's Square on
Saturday.
Dressed in a red robe with a white mitre on his head, the corpse
was carried to the basilica via St Peter's Square in an open
coffin, entering through the central door.
The faithful gathered in St Peter's Square applauded as the
corpse passed through it, carried by the 'sediari pontifici,'
the chair-bearers who used to carry popes around in public until
Pope John Paul II stopped this practice in favour of the use of
popemobiles and assigned these ushers other tasks.
Francis's coffin was laid in front of the Altar of Confession on
a small, slightly inclined platform on a carpet on the ground
and not on a catafalque, in a break with the past in respect of
the late pope's wishes.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church,
presided over the rite of translation, beginning with a moment
of prayer at the chapel of Santa Marta.
After the procession, Farrell presided over the Liturgy of the
Word.
The Basilica will remain open to the faithful who wish to visit
the pope's body at the following times: Wednesday 23 April,
11:00-24:00; Thursday 24 April, 7:00-24:00; Friday 25 April,
7:00-19:00, said the Press Office of the Holy See.
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