Pope Francis Funeral to be Held on Saturday as Vatican Releases Image of Open Coffin

The Vatican has announced detailed arrangements for the farewell of the late Pope Francis, whose body will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 11am local time to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning.

The solemn procession will begin at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will lead the "rite of translation" and a moment of prayer.

Earlier on Easter Monday, Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell presided over the rite of the ascertainment of death and the placement of the late Pope Francis' body in the coffin, which took place in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

The coffin will make its way through Santa Marta Square, the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, and finally through the Arch of the Bells into St Peter’s Basilica.

At the Altar of the Confession, Cardinal Farrell will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, marking the official start of public visits to the late Pontiff’s body.

The funeral Mass will take place on Saturday at 10am, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the Mass will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe, symbolizing the global unity of the Church in mourning.

The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the “Ultima commendatio” and “Valedictio,” traditional rites that usher in the Novemdiales — nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the Pope’s soul.

Following the funeral, the body of Pope Francis will be entombed at the Basilica of St Mary Major, concluding a historic chapter in the life of the Catholic Church.

The body of Pope Francis will be entombed at the Basilica of St Mary Major, concluding a historic chapter in the life of the Catholic Church