Thousands Gather as Pope Francis Lies in State at Vatican

Pope Francis, who died at age 88 after a stroke and cardiac arrest, is lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City for three days to allow Catholics and well-wishers to pay their respects ahead of his funeral on Saturday. The late pope’s body was moved from his residence at Casa Santa Marta to the basilica in a solemn procession attended by cardinals, Swiss Guards, and mourners. The public viewing is open from Wednesday through Friday, with the casket placed before the Altar of the Confession rather than on an elevated bier, breaking with tradition. The funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and notable world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, and Britain’s Prince William. After the funeral, Francis will become the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, at Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore. Italian authorities have implemented heightened security around the Vatican due to the influx of pilgrims and dignitaries.