St Peter’s Basilica will be teeming with mourners when the pope lies in state (Picture: Domenic Cippittelli/NurPhoto)
Pope Francis’ remains will be transferred to the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica soon, where mourning visitors can bid farewell to the pontiff.
The 88-year-old’s passing was announced this morning, but the wheels are already in motion for the official steps the Vatican must follow after a Pope dies.
This includes preparing for the lying in state of Pope Francis inside the striking basilica, which has been used for over 250 popes before him.
Here is a breakdown of what the mysterious procedure entails.
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What does lying in state mean?
Lying in state is the tradition of displaying a dead person in a public space so that mourners can pay their respects – a common practice for heads of state and politicians such as Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Il.
But before crowds can visit Pope Francis lying in state, some rituals need to be fulfilled first.
Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, a senior priest from Ireland, was named as the interim Pope known as the ‘camerlengo’ to oversee the transition period.
The previous Pope Benedict lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica on January 2, 2023. He resigned due to ill health in February 2013 and Pope Francis was elected (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
His first tasks would have been to confirm that the pope is actually dead by calling out his name three times. One myth claims that a ceremonial hammer is used to tap on his forehead, but this has never been confirmed.
Pope Francis will then be dressed in a red robe with a mitre on his head before being take to the basilica.
Where is Pope Francis lying in state?
Pope Francis could be lying in state inside St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday, according to the Vatican and Italian media.
Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, said: ‘The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning.’
A map shows where the pope will lie in state from Wednesday (Picture: Metro)
Pope Francis will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica within days (Picture: Preto Perola/Shutterstock)
How to visit St Peter’s Basilica to pay respect to the Pope?
Mourners have three days to visit as the pope lies in state on display before his funeral.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners could make the trip to see the Holy Father for the last time, meaning there are likely to be queues.
People praying in homage to Pope Francis on St Peter’s Square today following the news of his death (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
Hotels and accommodation in Rome could also see high demand.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, told La Repubblica that visitors can pay their respects in the Vatican from Wednesday, but the officials will ‘have to manage this flow.’
‘Afterwards there will be the funeral. We are all working towards this, he said.
Will Pope Francis have an open casket?
Pope Francis will not be in a casket in the lying in state.
Instead, like Pope Benedict and others before him, he will be placed on red velvet pillows on a podium in the basilica.
Where will Pope Francis be buried?
Pope Francis pictured preparing his predecessor Pope Benedict’s coffin at the end of his mass funeral at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on January 5, 2023 (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
While the exact date of the funeral has not been decided, it has to be between Friday and Sunday, according to the rules.
The funeral must fall between the fourth and sixth day after the pope’s death.
Pope Francis will be the first pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican.
He said in 2023 that his tomb has been prepared in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome.
The selection process for the next pope, know as the conclave, will not begin until days after the funeral.
You can read more about how the next pope is chosen here.
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