LIVE UPDATES: Thousands Bid Farewell To Pope Francis As Vatican Looks To Extend Viewing Hours

Swiss Guards accompany the pallbearers with the wooden coffin of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 23, 2025, during the translatio — the solemn transfer of the pope’s body for public viewing ahead of Saturday’s funeral Mass. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

The transfer of Pope Francis’ coffin to St. Peter’s Basilica began at 9 a.m. local time today, April 23, following a prayer ceremony in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.

The doors of St. Peter’s Basilica opened at 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET) for the public, allowing more than 20,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday.

A view of St. Peter's Square filled with mourners gathered for prayers following the translatio of Pope Francis' body on April 23, 2025. The late pontiff, who died on Easter Monday at age 88, will lie in state until his funeral Mass on Saturday, April 26. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA — A view of St. Peter’s Square filled with mourners gathered for prayers following the translatio of Pope Francis’ body on April 23, 2025. The late pontiff, who died on Easter Monday at age 88, will lie in state until his funeral Mass on Saturday, April 26. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

The late pontiff’s coffin rests before the altar on a modest wooden platform, placed almost at ground level.

Pilgrims are pausing to pray for a few moments before moving on, in a solemn procession that will continue until the pope’s burial at St. Mary Major Basilica following Saturday’s funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The body of Pope Francis is now in St. Peter’s Basilica. The solemn transfer of the coffin from Casa Santa Marta took place in St. Peter’s Square. pic.twitter.com/efIxBfl3Wf

— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) April 23, 2025

The Vatican “sediari” — the same bearers who in past centuries carried the portable papal throne — transported the coffin on their shoulders to St. Peter’s Square, accompanied by cardinals currently present in Rome.

From Casa Santa Marta to the Vatican Basilica, the procession was marked by visible emotion among onlookers. Some could not hold back tears as they followed in respectful silence the final journey of the “pope of the peripheries.”

On Friday at 8 p.m. local time, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, in his role as camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of closing of the coffin of the Roman Pontiff Francis.