Mourners pay tribute as Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica

Thousands of mourners gathered in solemn reverence on Wednesday as the body of Pope Francis was moved from his Vatican residence to St. Peter’s Basilica, ahead of his funeral scheduled for Saturday.

Vatican media reported that up to 20,000 pilgrims filled St. Peter’s Square to witness the poignant procession. The Pope’s open coffin was carried across the square amid the tolling of bells and spontaneous applause from the crowd—a traditional Italian gesture of respect and farewell.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, had suffered a stroke and battled double pneumonia earlier this year, spending five weeks in hospital. He was the first Latin American pontiff and served as the head of the Catholic Church for 12 years, widely revered for his humility, reformist vision, and global outreach.

The Vatican is preparing for a historic farewell, with world leaders and faithful from around the globe expected to attend Saturday’s funeral rites.