Pope Francis’ Coffin Arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica
Pallbearers carry Pope Francis’ coffin to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, April 23, 2025. X/ @EPA_Images
April 23, 2025 Hour: 4:30 am
Bishops and cardinals attend the Liturgy of the Word to be celebrated by the Camerlengo Cardinal.
On Wednesday, the open casket of Pope Francis, carried in procession on the shoulders of the papal sediari and escorted by the Swiss Guard, arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica, and was placed before the Altar of the Confession, allowing the faithful to bid him a final farewell.
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The ceremony of transferring Pope Francis’ casket from the chapel of Saint Martha began at 9:00 a.m. local time from what had been his residence to St. Peter’s Basilica.
The procession passed through Saint Martha Square and the Roman Protomartyrs Square, went under the Arch of the Bells, and emerged into St. Peter’s Square before entering the Vatican Basilica.
The casket was preceded by the cardinals present in Rome, while those who had been closest to the pontiff—his secretaries and assistants—brought up the rear of the procession. The casket was placed in front of the tomb of St. Peter and beneath Bernini’s imposing baldachin.
Images from the Vatican showed the chapel of Saint Martha, where Francis had lain in repose in recent hours, with the cardinals present in Rome seated in the pews awaiting the start of the procession to the Vatican Basilica.
The Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, sprinkled holy water on the casket containing the pope’s remains and then read: “With great sorrow, we accompany the remains of our beloved Pope Francis from this chapel to the Vatican Basilica, where he carried out his ministry as bishop of the Church of Rome and apostle of the universal Church.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of media outlets from around the world were capturing the moment from the Braccio di Carlo Magno, the terrace above St. Peter’s colonnade, while the faithful waited gathered near the square to bid him farewell starting at 11:00 a.m. local time.
Inside the basilica, bishops, and cardinals, as well as Vatican personnel, took their places to attend the Liturgy of the Word to be celebrated by the Camerlengo Cardinal.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
