A procession is under way to transfer Pope Francis’ coffin from his residence to St Peter’s Basilica, where he will lie in state before his funeral on Saturday.
The procession begins with Pope Francis’ body being moved from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta residence on Wednesday morning (local time), where he lived during his papacy.
The procession will travel through Piazza Santa Marta and the Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani, passing through the Arch of the Bells and into St Peter’s Square, before entering St Peter’s Basilica through the central door.
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Prior to the procession, Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, the cardinal tasked with arranging the papal funeral and conclave, held a brief service in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta with a short antiphon of hope.
“Let us thank the Lord for countless gifts that he bestowed on the Christian people through His servant Pope Francis,” the Camerlengo said in prayer.
“Let us ask him in his mercy and kindness to grant the late Pope an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven and to comfort with celestial hope, the papal family, the church in Rome and the faithful throughout the world.”
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Once at St Peter’s Basilica, the Camerlengo will preside over a service, known at the Liturgy of the Word, that will allow attendees to pay their respects to the late Pope.
The faithful will recite several religious verses, including psalm 22, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd,’ during the service.
Attendees will also recite the litany of the saints and the Catholic customary prayers of the dead during the liturgy.
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The service is expected to finish with the Marian Antiphon, a prayer to Jesus’s mother Mary.
At the conclusion of the service, the public will be able to pay their respects to the pope, whose body will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica for three days.
For those who wish to visit the pope and pay their respects, the basilica will be open on Wednesday until midnight, on Thursday from 7am to midnight local time, and Friday from 7am to 7pm local time.
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