After lying in the state for three days, Pope Francis will be placed to rest on Saturday after a funeral in St. Peter Square, Vatican City.
Funeral Mass will be held outdoors, with the scheduled attendance of President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Voldymee Zelensky.
Tens of thousands of mourners, many travelled to attend from around the world, are expected to gather in the public square before the public mass begins at 10.00 sest.
There are expected to be as many as 200,000 people attending.
The late Pope is then transported to be buried in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore or at the San Maria Major, one of Rome’s four Pope Basilicas.
Pope Francis revised and simplified the Vatican ritual before the funeral. This will see the president and royal family attend while prisoners and immigrants guide him to his final resting place.
The Pope hoped the ceremony would reflect his Pope’s priorities, where he sought to emphasize his role as a mere priest rather than a powerful religious leader.
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