News from Italy
For three days, the faithful will be able to pay their last respects to the Pontiff
Pope Francis’s body was transported this morning to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful will be able to pay their last respects to the Pontiff for three days.
It was an intense moment today, preceding the funeral scheduled for Saturday morning. The body of Pope Francis was transported this morning to St. Peter’s Basilica, accompanied by the pontifical sedan chairs and a solemn procession, one of the most meaningful in the Vatican ceremony. The faithful can pay their last respects to the Pontiff for three days.
The coffin is a humble wooden box devoid of ostentatious decorations, reflecting Pope Francis’s modest life.
The body was placed in a square brown wooden coffin, without decorations, in perfect continuity with the life that Pope Francis had chosen to lead since the beginning of his pontificate. Like the Domus Santa Marta hotel room, which is preferred to the papal apartments, his “final home” reflects the sobriety that accompanied him until the end. No catafalque, at his explicit request: he wanted to be buried as a Christian, not as a sovereign.
Liturgical vestments
Pope Francis lies in state, adorned in the traditional liturgical vestments befitting a Pontiff’s burial. This precise choice, a reflection of Francis’s desires, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to simplicity and adherence to Vatican rules.
A red chasuble is a sign of the sacrifice and liturgy of the deceased, and the pallium and the white mitre are placed on the head. Nothing new has been made for the occasion.
a red chasuble ,the pallium white mitre
The Pope has his hands clasped in prayer around a rosary of black beads, which he probably gives to visitors and the faithful. He wears the same silver ring on his finger during his service in Argentina.
The serene face with a slight smile
A slight smile is imprinted on Francis’s face. There is a small hematoma on one side, a sign of the suffering of the last hours related to the stroke that struck him, which is also the confirmation that the body was not treated. The image remains of the hinted smile of someone who leaves this world with serenity.
Visits to the Pope’s body in St. Peter’s: the times
As communicated by the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican Basilica will remain open to the faithful who wish to visit the Pope’s body at the following times: Wednesday, 23 April, from 11 am to midnight; Thursday, 24 April, from 7 am to midnight and Friday 25 April from 7 am to 7 pm
