Members of the public on Wednesday started to pay their respects to Pope Francis as his body lies in state in St Peter's Basilica after it was transferred from the chapel of Santa Marta, the residence inside the Vatican where he lived, following his death at the age of 88 on Monday.
    The late pontiff's remains will lie in state in the basilica until Friday ahead of his funeral in St Peter's Square on Saturday.
    Dressed in a red robe with a white mitre on his head, the corpse was carried to the basilica via St Peter's Square in an open coffin, entering through the central door.
    The faithful gathered in St Peter's Square applauded as the corpse passed through it, carried by the 'sediari pontifici,' the chair-bearers who used to carry popes around in public until Pope John Paul II stopped this practice in favour of the use of popemobiles and assigned these ushers other tasks.
    Francis's coffin was laid in front of the Altar of Confession on a small, slightly inclined platform on a carpet on the ground and not on a catafalque, in a break with the past in respect of the late pope's wishes.
    Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over the rite of translation, beginning with a moment of prayer at the chapel of Santa Marta.
    After the procession, Farrell presided over the Liturgy of the Word.
    The Basilica will remain open to the faithful who wish to visit the pope's body at the following times: Wednesday 23 April, 11:00-24:00; Thursday 24 April, 7:00-24:00; Friday 25 April, 7:00-19:00, said the Press Office of the Holy See.

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