Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, public viewing from Wednesday

VATICAN CITY: The funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, informed Vatican. The funeral mass will begin at 1:30 pm Indian time and it will be very simple, as the Pope has instructed.

The Pope's body will be taken to St Peter's Basilica tomorrow. There will be public viewing until Saturday. The process of electing a new pope will begin after the funeral.

Pope Francis died at 11.05 am Indian time (7.35 am local time) yesterday at the official residence of the Vatican, Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican announced the news of his death to the outside world at 1.15 pm Indian time.

He had been recovering after a month-long hospital stay after battling a serious bout of pneumonia. On Sunday, after the Easter Mass, he arrived in his special vehicle in St. Peter's Square and blessed the faithful. He also gave the usual blessing message at the end of the ceremony and died soon after that.

Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 after suffering from bronchitis. On the 18th, pneumonia was confirmed in both lungs. Breathing difficulties and infections made his condition worse. However, he overcame his limitations through treatment and returned to the Vatican on March 23. Doctors had prescribed a two-month rest.

He had been absent from official events and had made brief visits to St. Peter's Basilica to bless the faithful in recent days. In his last days, he appeared without the help of oxygen through a tube. The faithful had been looking forward to the Pope's return.