St. Peter’s Basilica opens to the public to pay their respects to Pope Francis before his funeral

VATICAN CITY AP The Vatican opened St Peter s Basilica to the general citizens Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis with thousands of people filling the central aisle and Swiss Guards standing at attention Francis body will lie in state in the basilica until Saturday s funeral and burial The residents mourning period began at a m after Francis casket was transported from the Vatican hotel where he lived to the basilica The procession of cardinals and bishops brought Francis through the same piazza where he gave what became his final salute in his popemobile on Easter Sunday Francis died on Monday at age THIS IS A EMERGING NEWS UPDATE AP s earlier story follows below VATICAN CITY AP The bells of St Peter s tolled Wednesday as the body of Pope Francis was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where the pontiff had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before in what became his final good-bye Pallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican s archway gates out into St Peter s Square and into the basilica the cardinals in their scarlet cassocks bishops in their purple robes and the Swiss Guards in their golden and blue uniforms processing slowly behind Cardinal Kevin Farrell who is running the Vatican temporarily until a new pope is elected led the procession with clouds of incense preceding him as the church choir began chanting the Litany of Saints hymn In pairs the cardinals approached the casket bowed and made a sign of the cross followed by small groups of bishops ushers priests and nuns Heads of state are expected for Francis funeral Saturday but the three days of residents viewing in the basilica will allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the -year-old pope who died Monday after suffering a stroke The basilica was being kept open until midnight to accommodate the crowds a mourning period that will end on Friday at p m when Francis casket is closed and sealed Mourners in the piazza watched as Francis casket passed them by along the same path the pope had travelled just days before on Easter Sunday in what became his final popemobile tour through the faithful It was a surprise salute which Francis decided at the last minute after being assured by his nurse he could do it despite his continued frail wellness from pneumonia Simplified rituals reflect Francis wishes Francis death and funeral inaugurates a methodically orchestrated period of transition in the -billion strong Catholic Church with cardinals gathering over the coming week before entering into a conclave the secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope There are cardinals under age and eligible to vote in the conclave and the new pontiff will likely come from within their ranks The conclave is not expected to begin before May Francis first lay in state in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household Images issued by the Vatican on Tuesday established Francis lying in an open casket wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes his hands folded over a rosary The Vatican s No Cardinal Pietro Parolin was pictured praying by Francis Once inside the basilica Francis casket wasn t put on an elevated bier as was the affair with past popes but was just placed on an inclined ramp the main altar of the th-century basilica facing the pews with four Swiss Guards standing at attention by its side It was in keeping with Francis own wishes for all the rituals surrounding a papal funeral to be simplified and reflect the pope s role as a simple pastor not a world leader Look kindly Lord on the life and works of your servant our Pope Francis Farrell announced from the altar Welcome him into the dwelling of perpetual light and peace and grant that your faithful people may follow fervently in his footsteps bearing witness to the Gospel of Jesus Italian police have tightened precaution for the viewing and the funeral carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican where pilgrims continued to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations that Francis opened in December The faithful who walk through St Peter s Holy Door are granted indulgences a way to help atone for sins For me Pope Francis represents a great pastor as well as a great friend to all of us mentioned Micale Sales visiting St Peter s Basilica from Brazil I think he spread a positive message around the world saying there shouldn t be any violence there should be peace around the world disclosed Amit Kukreja from Australia Planning for the conclave is now underway The funeral has been set for Saturday at a m in St Peter s Square and will be attended by leaders including U S President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave to elect Francis successor make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff s death History s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated multiple conservatives with critiques of capitalism and context change He last appeared in inhabitants on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St Peter s Square He had several reservations about looping through the square packed with faithful Vatican News informed on Tuesday but overcame them and was thankful that he had greeted the crowd He died the next morning The death of a pope is not a small thing because we ve lost our leader announced Julio Henrique from Brazil But still in a scarce days we will have a new leader So the thing of hope remains Who will assume Peter s throne