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

It was a very moving moment — a prayer inside the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where Pope Francis lived from day one of his pontificate, essentially, giving up the luxury of living inside the huge papal apartment in the Apostolic palace.

His open coffin was raised on a stretcher and slowly taken to St. Peter's Basilica in a slow procession led by the chamberlain of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell. Francis, dressed in bishop’s robes, was holding a rosary in his hand symbolizing that the Pope is first and foremost the Bishop of Rome.

Eventually the coffin was carried into St. Peter's Square coming through the Arch of the Bells and weaving its way past the 20,000 people who had gathered there.

The eerie silence was broken by a round of applause when the casket was taken inside St. Peter's Basilica through the central door. It was then placed in front of the outer of the confession, raised on top of the place where Catholics believe St. Peter was buried.

Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

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.

Mourners have begun filing in the St. Peter's Basilica, after barriers to Vatican Square were opened, in a relief for the worshippers who had been standing in line in sweltering sunshine for several hours.

Once inside, the crowd narrows into a slow-moving column as people pay their final respects to Francis, whose body is lying in an open casket in front of the basilica's Altar of Confession.

The basilica will remain open until midnight local time (6 p.m. ET).

Pope Francis' coffin will be closed on Friday at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), the Holy See Press Office said.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the ritual, it added.

For most worshippers, Pope Francis’ death brought daily life to a halt. But in St. Peter’s Square, the air hums with activity. There are rites to be performed, funerary events to be arranged and a conclave to be held for the election of the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Tens of thousands wait to be allowed into the basilica to pay their respects to the pope. Meanwhile, bishops, recognizable by their black robes and purple stoles tied above the waists, emerge from the Holy Office Square on the right side of the vast building's main entrance.

Vatican authorities have temporarily stopped members of the public from entering St. Peter's Square over fears about overcrowding.

As a result, no one will be able to enter the square until 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET).

Vatican Media via AP, HO

Vice President JD Vance said it was “pretty crazy” that Pope Francis passed away so quickly after they met on Easter Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in India, he said he was not planning to attend the funeral. President Donald Trump had said he will travel to Rome for the commemoration.

Acknowledging that he had some disagreements with Francis, Vance said he would not “soil” the legacy of the Pope, who he called a “great pastor” by talking about politics.

Even before 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), a long line of worshippers was waiting to enter St. Peter's Square to pay respects.

As Latin psalms rang out, they filed into the square, then bells rang just before Pope Francis' coffin was a carried out.

Those who couldn't get into the square looked over the surrounding barriers, hoping to catch a glimpse before the coffin was carried into St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis' will lie in state for three days.

Members of the clergy and other worshipers walked together as the coffin of the late Pope Francis arrived in St. Peter's this morning. A large sculpture looks over the inside of St. Peter's Basilica, where the late pontiff will lie in state for three days.

Pope Francis' body is being carried through the Vatican in an open coffin accompanied by hymns, berobed priests, Swiss Guards and those who served in his household. Prayers are playing on loudspeakers, starting with Psalm 22 and followed by Psalm 114.

Pope Francis' body will be transferred to St. Peter's Basicilia this morning ahead of his funeral on Saturday. His lying in state will be open to public and worshippers will be able to pay their respects to the first Latin American pope.

While estimates vary for how many people are expected to visit, over 2 million mourners lined up to view Pope John Paul II's body in 2005, according to the Italian Civil Protection agency.

Pope Francis had doubts about the Easter Sunday popemobile ride through St. Peter’s Square, the first among the throngs of faithful since surviving near-fatal pneumonia, Vatican News reported on Tuesday.

“Do you think I can manage it?’’ the pontiff asked Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal health care assistant, Vatican News reported.

The pope was reassured and he stopped to embrace people, especially children, as he was driven through the crowd of 50,000.

Afterward, Francis told Strappetti, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square,” Vatican News reported. On his previous outings to St. Peter’s Square during his convalescence, the pope was pushed in a wheelchair to the altar from the basilica, not out into the wider crowd.

Francis showed the first signs of illness at around 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday and fell into a coma an hour later, “after making a gesture of farewell with his hand” to his personal health care assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, according to Vatican News.

The people who were with Francis at the time say he didn't appear to have suffered, the official Vatican news agency reported Tuesday.

Cardinals determine public viewing of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica to begin on Wednesday morning.

He is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.