Pope Francis’ coffin is sealed in a private ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica, after some 250,000 mourners had paid their respects.
The Pope had been lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday.
After the huge crowds of visitors – in total around 250,000 – over the last three days, St Peter’s emptied out as the last mourners paid their respects.
The deceased Pope lay in state in front of the Confessio altar in a wooden coffin, wrapped in a red chasuble, with a white mitre and a rosary clasped in his hands – the coffin resting at ground level, without a catafalque. This was Francis’ own decision..