--- title: "Pope Francis' body lies in state at St Peter's ahead of funeral" description: "VATICAN CITY, April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis' body will be moved to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to allow Catholic faithful to pay their final respects ahead of a funeral expected to bring U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders to Rome." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Newsdeck" author: "Reuters" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-23-pope-francis-body-lies-in-state-at-st-peters-ahead-of-funeral/" published: "2025-04-23T04:39:25" updated: "2025-04-23T04:39:27" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 440 --- # Pope Francis' body lies in state at St Peter's ahead of funeral > VATICAN CITY, April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis' body will be moved to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to allow Catholic faithful to pay their final respects ahead of a funeral expected to bring U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders to Rome. By Reuters · Published 23 April 2025, 06:39 SAST · Updated 23 April 2025, 06:39 SAST ## Key points - In a grand procession that would make even the most seasoned funeral director weep with envy, the world bids adieu to Pope Francis, whose reformist legacy will soon be debated amongst cardinals while a certain orange-tinted ex-president prepares to crash the Vatican's farewell party. - Grand procession for Pope Francis' funeral features cardinals and Latin chants, set to begin at 9 a.m. - Former President Trump and numerous global leaders, including those from Italy, France, and Ukraine, will attend the service on Saturday. - The conclave to elect Francis' successor is not expected to convene until after May 6, amid ongoing discussions among cardinals. - Francis requested burial at St Mary Major basilica, with a simple Latin inscription, diverging from the tradition of St Peter's burial. ## Content - Procession with cardinals and Latin chants - Trump and dozens of other leaders to attend funeral on Saturday - Conclave to choose a successor, not expected before May 6 By Alvise Armellini Francis, [a groundbreaking reformer](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3451H3&linkedFromStory=true), died aged 88 [on Monday](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3QZ05V&linkedFromStory=true) from a stroke and cardiac arrest, ending an often turbulent 12-year reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised. His body, lying in an open casket, was set to be taken from the chapel of the Vatican residence where he lived to St Peter's, entering through the central door, in a grand procession starting at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), with cardinals and Latin chants. After a religious service, the faithful and the general public will be allowed to visit the late pontiff until 7 p.m. on Friday, with a funeral scheduled for the next morning. The service will be outdoors, in St Peter's Square, and due to be led by the dean of the college of cardinals, 91-year-old Giovanni Battista Re. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend. [Trump](https://www.reuters.com/topic/person/donald-trump/), who [clashed](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N3OF0E9&linkedFromStory=true)[repeatedly](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3LQ0NE&linkedFromStory=true) with the pope on immigration, will be accompanied by first lady Melania. Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, EU institutions and Francis' home nation of Argentina also confirmed their presence. CONCLAVE NOT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS Francis has asked to be [buried in St Mary Major](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N3PC1BL&linkedFromStory=true), a Roman basilica he was particularly attached to, rather than St Peter's like many of his predecessors, with a simple inscription of his name in Latin, Franciscus. On Tuesday, the Vatican released images of the pope dressed in his vestments, holding a rosary, with Swiss Guards standing beside his casket. Dignitaries, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Jewish leaders, came to visit. His death, which came as a relative surprise as he had appeared in public on the previous day but still looked frail after double pneumonia and a five-week hospital stay that had ended on March 23, has [set in motion ancient rituals](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N36222I&linkedFromStory=true). About 60 cardinals gathered on Tuesday to decide funeral plans, with more meetings planned in the coming days on other urgent business. The conclave, which will choose the new pope, is not expected to start before May 6. There is [no clear frontrunner](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3862OB&linkedFromStory=true) to succeed Francis, although British bookmakers have singled out Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Pietro Parolin, a compromise choice from Italy, as early favourites. In the meantime, in the period known as the "sede vacante" (vacant seat) for the global Catholic Church, a cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain), Irish-American Kevin Farrell, is in charge of ordinary affairs.