Thousands of Faithful Bid Farewell to Pope Francis

Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88, is being held in St. Peter's Basilica where thousands of faithful come to pay their respects before his funeral, scheduled for Saturday.

The pontiff's body was transferred from Casa Santa Marta to the Basilica in a solemn procession led by the College of Cardinals. More than 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square received the coffin with applause as it was carried down the steps of the Basilica.

During the opening ceremony, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, led a brief prayer thanking "the innumerable gifts he bestowed on the Christian people through his servant, Pope Francis" during his 12-year pontificate.

The funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. Some 200,000 faithful and more than 150 international delegations are expected to attend, including numerous heads of state and government.

Although Pope Francis introduced some changes to traditional funeral protocol, mainly related to the coffin, the ceremony will maintain the characteristic solemnity with strict diplomatic and liturgical protocol.

After Mass, the late Pope's body will be transferred from St. Peter's Basilica to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires in 1936, was elected pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in history.