The Vatican has officially announced that the funeral service for Pope Francis will be held this Saturday at 10:00 AM local time (08:00 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square, in front of the iconic basilica. The late pontiff, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, will be honored in a solemn ceremony expected to draw thousands of mourners from around the world.
Following the public funeral rites, the coffin of Pope Francis will be moved inside St. Peter’s Basilica, and subsequently taken to the historic Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where he will be laid to rest.
The Vatican also confirmed that the Pope’s body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing starting Wednesday at 9:00 AM (07:00 GMT). Currently, his remains are placed in a coffin within the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he had resided throughout his 12-year papacy.