This Wednesday (23), the coffin with the body of Pope Francis will be transferred from the chapel of the house of Santa Marta to the Basilica of St. Peter, where faithful may say goodbye to the Pontiff. The information was released by the Vatican.
In a statement, the Holy See also informed the times to visit the faithful to the São Pedro Basilica: on Wednesday, from 11am to midnight; on Thursday (24), from 7am to midnight; and on Friday (25), from 7am to 7pm.
The funeral of Francisco was scheduled for next Saturday (26), from 10am, in the Basilica of St. Peter. From there, the coffin containing the body will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, where it will be buried, as requested by the Pontiff.
The ceremony, known as Mass of Exequias, marks the first day of noveniali or nine days of mourning and prayers in honor of the Pope. The celebration, in the atrium of the Basilica, will be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the Cardinal College.
In the end, there will be the rites of the last Commendatio and Valedicio – solemn farewells that mark the closure of the foster.
