VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of people filed through the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday, the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the pontiff's funeral.
Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century basilica's main altar, where Francis' simple open wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention. Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.
Many people paying their respects had come to Rome to celebrate Easter, on a spring vacation or other personal business, only to be met with the news of Francis' death on Easter Monday. Out of devotion to the Argentine pope and his message of inclusion, they joined the procession of mourners that wended through the Holy Door and down the central aisle of the basilica.
Francis was laid out in red robes, clasping a rosary and wearing a bishop’s miter, the traditional pointed headdress. Mourners waited hours to reach the casket — which sat behind a cordon — some holding their cell phones aloft as they neared him to snap photos in what has become a modern ritual.
“It gave me chills,” said Ivenes Bianco, as she left the basilica. She was in Rome from the southern city of Brindisi for medical care, and had come to pay her respects.
"He was important to me because he encouraged co-existence. He brought many people together.''
Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for Saturday's funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis' successor.
Francis died on Monday at age 88, capping a 12-year pontificate characterized by his concern for the poor and message of inclusion, but also some criticism from conservatives who sometimes felt alienated by his progressive bent.
Wednesday opened with the bells of St. Peter’s tolling as pallbearers carried Francis' body from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica in a procession through the same piazza where he had delivered what became his final goodbye. Francis made a surprise popemobile tour through the faithful on Easter Sunday, after being assured by his nurse he could despite his continued frail health from a bout of pneumonia.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican temporarily until a new pope is elected, led the procession down the central aisle to the altar, with clouds of incense preceding him and the choir chanting the Litany of Saints hymn. In pairs, cardinals in red cassocks approached the casket, bowed and made a sign of the cross, followed by small groups of purple-robbed bishops, black-clad ushers, priests and nuns — and then the doors were thrown open to the public.
Heads of state are expected for Francis' funeral, but the three days of public viewing in the basilica allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the Argentine pope. The viewing ends Friday at 7 p.m., after which Francis' casket will be closed and sealed.
Simplified rituals reflect Francis' wishes
Francis' death and funeral inaugurates a carefully orchestrated period of transition in the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church, with cardinals gathering over the coming days before entering into a conclave, the secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. There are 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote, and the new pontiff will likely come from within their ranks. The conclave is not expected to begin before May 5.
South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, who heads the Vatican's office for priests, predicted a short conclave, but acknowledged the transition is full of uncertainties.
“We'll see what the Holy Spirit says,” he said Wednesday. Asked if the next pope could come from Asia, where the Catholic Church is growing, he insisted: “For the Lord, there's no East or West.”
Papua New Guinea’s first and only cardinal, John Ribat, prepared Wednesday to leave for Rome to participate in the vote, pleased to represent the poor South Pacific island nation of 12 million people and more than 800 languages in a College of Cardinals that Francis greatly diversified over 12 years.
“The important thing is that … Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing,” Ribart told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He said he hoped the next pope would be someone who could lead the church in “a way that is truthful and binds everyone together.”
Francis first lay in state in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed the pope in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis.
Once inside the basilica, Francis' casket wasn't put on an elevated bier — as was the case with past popes — but placed on a ramp, facing the pews. It was in keeping with Francis' wishes for all the rituals surrounding a papal funeral to be simplified to reflect his belief that the pope's role is that of simple pastor, not world leader.
“For me, Pope Francis represents a great pastor, as well as a great friend to all of us,’’ said Micale Sales, visiting St. Peter’s Basilica from Brazil.
Italian police have tightened security for the viewing and the funeral, carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican, where pilgrims continued to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations that Francis opened in December. The faithful who walk through St. Peter’s Holy Door during such years are granted indulgences, a way to help atone for sins.
“I think he spread a positive message around the world, saying there shouldn’t be any violence, there should be peace around the world,’’ said Amit Kukreja, from Australia.
Planning for the conclave is now underway
The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, and will be attended by leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy.
Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.
History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.
Francis had some reservations about his final popemobile tour through St. Peter’s Square on Easter, Vatican News reported on Tuesday. But he overcame them, the news agency said, and was thankful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.
“The death of a pope is not a small thing, because we’ve lost our leader,’’ Julio Henrique from Brazil said just outside the basilica. “But still, in a few days, we will have a new leader. So … the thing of hope remains. Who will assume Peter’s throne?”
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Associated Press reporters Silvia Stellacci and Trisha Thomas contributed to this report.
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The body of Pope Francis was moved Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace.
Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, but the public viewing is largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke.
The basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7 p.m. local time.
Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule Francis’ funeral and burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.
Here's the latest:
Throngs of faithful start paying final respects to pope
They made their way slowly to the main altar of the 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis’ simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention.
Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica.
The Vatican opens St. Peter’s Basilica to general public
This will allow the faithful to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, as thousands filled the central aisle.
Congregants in Johannesburg attend special memorial mass for pope
Despite the rain on Wednesday, dozens filled the Cathedral of Christ the King for the Mass led by Cardinal Stephen Brislin of South Africa, who was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023.
Pews were lit up with large white candles, while a framed photograph of Francis was put on display as Brislin reflected on the late pope’s message of tolerance for all.
The service was also attended by leaders of South Africa’s African National Congress political party, including its secretary general, Fikile Mbalula.
Maxima Louw, a 50-year-old man who has been attending services at the cathedral for more than a decade, said Pope Francis was like a spiritual father to him.
Papua New Guinea’s 1st and only cardinal will attend funeral
John Ribat is preparing to leave the poor South Pacific island on Wednesday.
“The important thing is that … Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing,” the 68-year-old Archbishop of Port Moresby told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Francis appointed Ribat a cardinal in 2016. The pope last year visited the diverse nation with an estimated population of 12 million people and more than 800 languages.
Taiwan will send former top official to funeral
Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic, will represent the island democracy, the government said Wednesday.
Relations with the Vatican are especially important to Taiwan because the Holy See is the only European state to recognize the island’s sovereignty in defiance of China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory to be annexed by force if necessary.
Chen is a former vice president and premier and recipient of several of the Vatican’s highest honors. Though less than 5% of Taiwan’s population is Catholic, the church has roots on the island dating back to 17th-century Spanish explorers.
Israeli Foreign Ministry deletes pope condolences post
The ministry refused to comment on its decision to post and then quickly delete the post on X, which said: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing."
According to Israeli media, Israeli ambassadors, especially those serving in predominantly Catholic countries, were furious over the deleted post.
Pope Francis was critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, and exceptionally close to the Catholic church there, but had also called on Hamas to release the hostages and condemned the rise in antisemitism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made any public comment on the pope’s passing.
Mourners watch Francis’ casket being moved
The casket passed them by along the same path the pope had travelled just days before, on Easter Sunday, in what became his final popemobile tour through the faithful.
It was a surprise salute, which Francis decided at the last minute after being assured he could do it despite his continued frail health from pneumonia.
The bells of St. Peter’s toll as the body of the pope is transferred
The procession included solemn cardinals, prelates and Swiss Guards escorting the pontiff to where he will lie in state.
A choir chanted as the cardinals processed slowly through the archway gates leading out into the piazza.
JD Vance says he won't attend the pope's funeral
The U.S. vice president is currently on a four-day visit to India.
He said Wednesday that while he was able to see Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during his Vatican visit over the weekend, he didn’t “realize how sick he was” and that he would always remember the pontiff as a “great pastor.”
Ceremony to transfer Pope Francis’ body begins
His body will be transferred from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing.
Filipino community in Taiwan gathers to mourn
Filipinos in Taiwan began gradually gathering at St. Christopher’s Church, a center for a community whose members have migrated to the island to work mainly in factories and as caregivers.
“This is a church for migrants, for people who have to live away from their loved ones, and Pope Francis had a deep concern for those people,” said Luz Fernandez, a housekeeper whose employer gave her time off to light a candle at the church. “He will be missed."
Philippines' Marcos remembers Francis as ‘best pope in my lifetime’
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the leader of the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia, will attend the funeral in Rome of Pope Francis, whom he described as “the best pope in my lifetime.”
Marcos, 67, will be joined by his wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos, in the trip to Rome, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday.
The Philippine leader extolled Francis as “a man of profound faith and humility.”
Churches across the Philippines rang their bells Monday to mourn the death of Francis, who visited the country in 2015 to console survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.
Trump will head to Rome for funeral
Trump is planning to leave Washington on Friday morning to fly to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral services.
He’ll return Saturday evening, once services are over.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the president’s travel plans during her briefing with reporters on Tuesday. She did not provide details on whether Trump will meet with foreign leaders during the trip, or who might travel with him as part of a U.S. delegation.