Pope Francis has been interred at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, the Vatican said Saturday.
The “rite of the Entombment of the Roman Pontiff” began at 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the “camerlengo” who had been tasked with making arrangements for Francis’ funeral, and who will soon help organize a conclave to choose Francis’ successor.
The ceremony concluded at 1.30 p.m., the Vatican added.
Francis is the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the walls of the Vatican. In his will, the late pontiff asked that his tomb be inscribed only with the word: “Franciscus.”
In a statement, the Vatican says Pope Francis’ coffin has been entombed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome.
“The Pope is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and his entombment was a private event, allowing for those closest to him to pay their respects,” the statement adds.
About 140,000 people are now gathering in St Peter’s Square and the nearby streets for Pope Francis’s funeral, Italian police report.
That includes 40,000 people in St Peter’s Square itself, which is almost at capacity.
The funeral also had in attendance several world leaders as they converged to pay final homage to the Catholic Pontiff.
Also in attendance were Nigerian delegates led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The five-man delegate was selected by President Bola Tinubu who had earlier mourned Pope Francis following his demise on Easter Monday.