Pope Francis' body moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing

VATICAN CITY - The public was invited to pay their final respects on Wednesday to Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis’ body will lie in state in the basilica until Saturday’s funeral and burial. 

Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica

What we know:

Earlier on Wednesday, the bells of St. Peter’s tolled as Francis’ body was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica. The body was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where the pontiff had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before on Easter Sunday in what became his final good-bye. 

A general view as the body of Pope Francis is transferred to the Basilica at St Peter’s Square on April 23, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Then, thousands of people quickly began lining up and filing past Francis' body to say goodbye.

Timeline:

There will be three days of public viewing in the basilica to allow Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke. 

The basilica was being kept open until midnight to accommodate the crowds, a mourning period that will end on Friday at 7 p.m. local time, when Francis' casket is closed and sealed.

The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Pope Francis’ funeral and burial

What's next:

Several heads of state are expected to attend Francis' funeral on Saturday, which will begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), including President Donald Trump. 

Francis said he wants to be buried not in St. Peter’s Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St. Mary Major Basilica across town. His choice reflected his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (or, Salvation of the people of Rome).