Thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis as the Vatican opened three days of public viewing ahead of his funeral.
Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century basilica's main altar, where Francis' simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention.
Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.
Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for Saturday's funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis' successor.
Francis died on Monday at age 88, capping a 12-year pontificate characterized by his concern for the poor and message of inclusion, but also some criticism from conservatives who sometimes felt alienated by his progressive bent.
Wednesday opened with the bells of St. Peter’s tolling as pallbearers carried Francis' body from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica in a procession through the same piazza where he had delivered what became his final goodbye.
Francis made a surprise popemobile tour through the faithful on Easter Sunday, after being assured by his nurse he could despite his continued frail health from a bout of pneumonia.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican temporarily until a new pope is elected, led the procession down the central aisle to the altar, with clouds of incense preceding him and the choir chanting the Litany of Saints hymn.
In pairs, cardinals in red cassocks approached the casket, bowed and made a sign of the cross, followed by small groups of purple-robbed bishops, black-clad ushers, priests and nuns - and then the doors were thrown open to the public.
Heads of state are expected for Francis' funeral, but the three days of public viewing in the basilica allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the Argentine pope. The viewing ends Friday at 7 p.m., after which Francis' casket will be closed and sealed.
Francis' death and funeral inaugurates a carefully orchestrated period of transition in the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church, with cardinals gathering over the coming days before entering into a conclave, the secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
There are 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote, and the new pontiff will likely come from within their ranks. The conclave is not expected to begin before May 5.
South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, who heads the Vatican's office for priests, predicted a short conclave, but acknowledged the transition is full of uncertainties.
"We'll see what the Holy Spirit says,” he said Wednesday. Asked if the next pope could come from Asia, where the Catholic Church is growing, he insisted: "For the Lord, there's no East or West.”
Papua New Guinea’s first and only cardinal, John Ribat, prepared Wednesday to leave for Rome to participate in the vote, pleased to represent the poor South Pacific island nation of 12 million people and more than 800 languages in a College of Cardinals that Francis greatly diversified over 12 years.
"The important thing is that ... Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing,” Ribart told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He said he hoped the next pope would be someone who could lead the church in "a way that is truthful and binds everyone together.”
Francis first lay in state in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed the pope in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis.
Once inside the basilica, Francis' casket wasn't put on an elevated bier – as was the case with past popes – but placed on a ramp, facing the pews. It was in keeping with Francis' wishes for all the rituals surrounding a papal funeral to be simplified to reflect his belief that the pope's role is that of simple pastor, not world leader.
"For me, Pope Francis represents a great pastor, as well as a great friend to all of us,’’ said Micale Sales, visiting St. Peter’s Basilica from Brazil.
Italian police have tightened security 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 during such years are granted indulgences, a way to help atone for sins.
"I think he spread a positive message around the world, saying there shouldn’t be any violence, there should be peace around the world,’’ said Amit Kukreja, from Australia.
The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, and will be attended by leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.
History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.
Francis had some reservations about his final popemobile tour through St. Peter’s Square on Easter, Vatican News reported on Tuesday. But he overcame them, the news agency said, 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,’’ Julio Henrique from Brazil said just outside the basilica. "But still, in a few days, we will have a new leader. So ... the thing of hope remains. Who will assume Peter’s throne?”
