The body of Pope Francis has been moved to St. Peter’s Basilica where he will lie in state for three days, allowing thousands of faithful from around the world to pay their final respects to the late pontiff.

The 88-year-old Pope passed away on April, 21 following complications from a stroke and cardiac arrest.

Wednesday morning in a solemn procession from the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he had lived since his election, Pope Francis’ casket was carried into St. Peter’s Basilica and placed before the main altar.

Dressed in traditional episcopal vestments, his body now rests beneath Michelangelo’s grand dome, as mourners file past in silence and prayer.

Vatican officials announced that the Basilica will remain open for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours until midnight today and tomorrow to accommodate the anticipated crowds.

The funeral is set for Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, which is expected to draw numerous world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In a break from papal tradition, Pope Francis requested a simpler burial. He will be interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he often prayed before and after international visits. The burial will not include the traditional triple coffin, underscoring his lifelong message of humility and closeness to ordinary people.

Security in and around the Vatican has been heightened significantly. Italian authorities, working closely with Vatican police, have deployed increased surveillance and crowd control measures to ensure safety throughout the mourning period.