By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A procession to move the body of Pope Francis to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing ended Wednesday morning, where thousands had already filled the central aisle.
A nun cries as the body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A nun cries as the body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Staff make final preparations in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Staff make final preparations in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinal’s in the procession with the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, enter St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Cardinal’s in the procession with the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, enter St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The body of Pope Francis inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The body of Pope Francis inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Vatican Swiss Guards stand in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican before the body of Pope Francis will be carried inside where he will lie in state for three days, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Vatican Swiss Guards stand in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican before the body of Pope Francis will be carried inside where he will lie in state for three days, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
People gather in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
People gather in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Cardinals take part in the ceremony transfering Pope Francis’ body, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Cardinals take part in the ceremony transfering Pope Francis’ body, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Vatican Swiss Guards frame the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Vatican Swiss Guards frame the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sits in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sits in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A prelate holds a picture of Pope Francis as he enters the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
A prelate holds a picture of Pope Francis as he enters the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
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)
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)
Swiss guards stand in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Swiss guards stand in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Nuns arrive in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Nuns arrive in St. Peter’s Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Prelates walk at St. Peter’s Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Prelates walk at St. Peter’s Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pontifical Swiss guards stand in St. Peter’s Square before the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Pontifical Swiss guards stand in St. Peter’s Square before the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Priests in St. Peter’s Basilica wait for the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Priests in St. Peter’s Basilica wait for the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (Alessandro Di Meo/ Pool Photo via AP)
The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (Alessandro Di Meo/ Pool Photo via AP)
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell asperges incense around the body of Pope Francis inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell asperges incense around the body of Pope Francis inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
The body of Pope Francis lies inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
The body of Pope Francis lies inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
The Argentine pontiff is remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace. He died on Monday at age 88.
Earlier, the bells of St. Peter’s tolled as his body was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived. His casket was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where the pontiff had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before in what became his final goodbye.
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