Pope Francis' body has been transferred to St. Peter's Basilica this morning for worshippers to pay their respects ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
Journalist with Vatican Radio Kielce Gussie told Newstalk Breakfast that the Pope’s burial wishes will be respected, despite breaking from usual tradition.
“In his last testament, his spiritual testament, he reiterated this desire to be buried outside of Vatican City State,” she said.
“He will be the first Pope to be buried outside of the Vatican in over a century.
“He actually chose to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which, as we've seen throughout his pontificate, was a very special place for him.
“He prayed in front of the icon of Mary almost every time before a Papal trip, and after, so it will be something that will happen because he has a special place for this Basilica.”
Pope Francis praying in the chapel Paolina of the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major). Image: Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM. March 15, 2020Ms Gussie said the current atmosphere in the holy city is “a bit weird”.
“You definitely have people who have come for this moment to say goodbye and to go to the funeral on Saturday,” she said.
“We have rosaries and masses taking place during the days leading up to the funeral as part of these nine days of mourning for the Pope.
“But it's also a mix of people... there's this kind of combination of pilgrims, people have come to say goodbye, and tourists.
“I think the numbers will only increase as we head towards the funeral on Saturday.”
Funeral mass
According to Ms Gussie, the pontiff’s funeral can be expected to be a real ‘who’s who’ of world leaders.
“Typically for papal funerals, heads of states, dignitaries, people from all over the world will come,” she said.
“We don't have an exact list now of who's going to be there, but I can imagine it's going to be a mixture of people; heads of states, as I mentioned.
“Who knows? It'll be everyone from around the world who will come to say goodbye to Pope Francis.”
Ms Gussie said the funeral mass will take place in the main square to accommodate the thousands of mourners expected to be in attendance.
Main image: The ceremony with the Pope Francis' body, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, pass through the crowd at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
