The Vatican opens St. Peter's Basilica to public to pay final respects to Pope Francis

The body of Pope Francis was moved Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace.

The public viewing is largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke.

The basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end Friday at 7 p.m. local time.

Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule Francis’ funeral and burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

Mourners 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 he could do it despite his continued frail health from pneumonia.

The bells of St. Peter’s tolled as the body of the pope was transferred.

The procession included solemn cardinals, prelates and Swiss Guards escorting the pontiff to where he will lie in state.

A choir chanted as the cardinals processed slowly through the archway gates leading out into the piazza.

Here’s the latest:

Throngs of faithful start paying final respects to pope

They made their way slowly to the main altar of the 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica, 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.

Slovakia declares Saturday a day of mourning

Prime Minister Robert Fico said the day of Pope Francis’ funeral will be a day of national mourning.

Slovakia is a Roman Catholic stronghold in Central Europe and President Peter Pellegrini is expected to attend the funeral.

Cardinals speak about needs of Catholic Church while honoring pope

Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the South Korean head of the Vatican’s office for priests, said he expected a short conclave but is non-committal on whether an Asian might be elected.

“For the Lord there is no west, nor east,” he said.

When asked by reporters what the church needs today, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria, referred to Francis’ call for the church to go out and meet the faithful where they are.

“(The pope) used very nice expressions ‘The church that goes out’, ‘The church as a field hospital,’ ‘The church as a house with open doors,’” Zenari said, adding that it was “the right direction.”

Congregants in Johannesburg attend special memorial mass for pope

Despite the rain on Wednesday, about 200 filled the Cathedral of Christ the King for the Mass led by Cardinal Stephen Brislin of South Africa, who was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023.

Pews were lit up with large white candles, while a framed photograph of Francis was put on display as Brislin reflected on the late pope’s message of tolerance for all.

The service was also attended by leaders of South Africa’s African National Congress political party, including its secretary general, Fikile Mbalula.

Papua New Guinea’s 1st and only cardinal will attend funeral

John Ribat is preparing to leave the poor South Pacific island on Wednesday.

“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,” the 68-year-old Archbishop of Port Moresby told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Francis appointed Ribat a cardinal in 2016. The pope last year visited the diverse nation with an estimated population of 12 million people and more than 800 languages.

Taiwan will send former top official to funeral

Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic, will represent the island democracy, the government said Wednesday.

Relations with the Vatican are especially important to Taiwan because the Holy See is the only European state to recognize the island’s sovereignty in defiance of China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

Chen is a former vice president and premier and recipient of several of the Vatican’s highest honors. Though less than 5% of Taiwan’s population is Catholic, the church has roots on the island dating back to 17th-century Spanish explorers.

Israeli Foreign Ministry deletes pope condolences post

The ministry refused to comment on its decision to post and then quickly delete the post on X, which said: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.”

According to Israeli media, Israeli ambassadors, especially those serving in predominantly Catholic countries, were furious over the deleted post.

Pope Francis was critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, and exceptionally close to the Catholic church there, but had also called on Hamas to release the hostages and condemned the rise in antisemitism.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made any public comment on the pope’s passing.

JD Vance says he won’t attend the pope’s funeral

The U.S. vice president is currently on a four-day visit to India.

He said Wednesday that while he was able to see Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during his Vatican visit over the weekend, he didn’t “realize how sick he was” and that he would always remember the pontiff as a “great pastor.”

Philippines’ Marcos remembers Francis as ‘best pope in my lifetime’

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — the leader of the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia — and his wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos, will attend the funeral in Rome of Pope Francis, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday.

Marcos Jr. also declared a period of national mourning and ordered the country’s flag to be flown at half-staff until the pontiff’s burial.

Churches across the Philippines rang their bells Monday to mourn the death of Francis, who visited the country in 2015 to console survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.

Trump will head to Rome for funeral

Trump is planning to leave Washington on Friday morning to fly to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral services.

He’ll return Saturday evening, once services are over.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the president’s travel plans during her briefing with reporters on Tuesday. She did not provide details on whether Trump will meet with foreign leaders during the trip, or who might travel with him as part of a U.S. delegation.