The corpse of Pope Francis has began its procession to Saint Peter’s Basilica for onward movement to Sant Mary's Basilica on Wednesday.
Pope Francis's corpse in an open casket was accompanied by dozens of red-robed cardinals and Swiss Guards.
His coffin left the Casa Santa Marta, where he resided on the shoulders of pallbearers and was carried slowly towards the basilica.
Eight Swiss Guards carrying staffs walked beside the open wooden coffin as it passed through St Peter’s Square, which was filled with tens of thousands of onlookers.
Priests decked out in choir dress and others in cassocks made up the long procession, some with candles in their hands, as groups of nuns followed behind.
Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering from stroke, coma, and a heart failure.
The late Pope will be buried on Saturday
His funeral is set for Saturday at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Pauline Chapel.
Pauline Chapel houses the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani.
The decision to bury Pope Francis there followed his request in his Spiritual Testament.
This was disclosed by the Holy See Press Office, where it noted that Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, has ascertained that the Pope died due to a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
According to the official medical report, the “Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.”
His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday after battling health issues that saw him in and out of hospital since February 14.
