Vatican City Opens St. Peter’s Basilica for Final Farewell to Pope Francis

Vatican City: The Vatican opened the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, allowing thousands of mourners to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, the beloved and humble pontiff who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. A steady stream of faithful filled the central aisle, where the late pope's casket now lies in state, while Swiss Guards stood solemnly at attention in his honor.
The public mourning period began at 11:00 a.m. local time (CEST), which is 2:30 p.m. IST in India, as Pope Francis’ casket was solemnly transported from Casa Santa Marta—the Vatican guesthouse where he had lived throughout his papacy—to St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinals and bishops, robed in mourning attire, led the procession through St. Peter’s Square, passing the very spot where Pope Francis gave his final blessing during Easter celebrations just weeks earlier.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first pope from Latin America and a figure celebrated worldwide for his message of compassion, humility, and inclusivity. His death marks the end of a transformative papacy that often challenged convention and brought the Church closer to the marginalized.

True to the values he lived by, Pope Francis had planned his funeral with a simplicity that reflected his lifelong commitment to humility and service. In his will, he rejected the elaborate customs traditionally associated with papal funerals. There will be no elevated viewing platform, no triple-coffin burial, and no grand inscriptions of titles or honors. Instead, his body rests in a single wooden coffin at ground level, allowing the public to bid farewell in a more intimate and equal manner. He will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica until Saturday morning, when the funeral Mass will be held. The Pope also made arrangements to cover all funeral costs through a philanthropic fund he supported, underscoring his desire to avoid placing any financial burden on the Church or the faithful.
Pope Francis' final resting place will be in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome—a site deeply significant to him throughout his life. A devoted follower of the Virgin Mary, he made it a personal ritual to visit the basilica before and after every international trip. Following his wishes, he will be buried near the famed icon of the Madonna, Salus Populi Romani, in a simple tomb. As a final gesture of humility, the tomb will bear no titles or epitaphs—just his name in Latin: Franciscus.

Leaders from around the globe will arrive in Vatican City to witness the burial of the Pope, who was not only the spiritual head of the Catholic Church but also the sovereign of the Holy See. Confirmed attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel Macron, Argentine President Javier Milei, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Nations across the world have declared official mourning in honor of the Pope, who was regarded as a symbol of boundless compassion and universal humanity. Italy has announced a five-day mourning period. In many countries, tearful tributes and ceremonies have been held in his memory. In Buenos Aires, Argentina—his birthplace—thousands gathered in churches, including the homeless and everyday citizens, lining up for hours to lay flowers before his image.