Procession of Pope Francis open coffin towards burial site begins

The body of Pope Francis has begun its solemn journey to Saint Peter’s Basilica, with plans to proceed to Saint Mary’s Basilica on Wednesday. 

The late Pope’s body, placed in an open casket, was escorted by numerous cardinals dressed in red robes, along with Swiss Guards.

His coffin, departing from Casa Santa Marta, his residence was gently carried by pallbearers, making its way slowly towards the basilica.

As the procession moved through St. Peter’s Square, eight Swiss Guards holding staffs walked alongside the wooden casket, which passed in front of 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.