Pope Francis' coffin sealed ahead of funeral

Pope Francis' coffin was sealed in a private ceremony at the Vatican on Friday night (early Saturday morning in the Philippines) in preparation for the funeral.

Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell presided over the liturgical rite, which took place in St. Peter's Basilica and was attended by some members of the pope's family as well as Vatican authorities. This marked the end of the three-day public viewing of the pope's remains, which drew thousands of people from different parts of the world.

As per tradition, a white silk veil was placed on the pope's face and a bag with coins and medals minted during his 12-year pontificate was placed in the wooden coffin.

''Now that the ceremony is over, the Chapter of St. Peter will hold a prayer vigil by the coffin all night, until the Pope's funeral begins tomorrow morning (afternoon in the Philippines),'' Vatican News said in an update.

On Saturday morning (Vatican time), the pope's coffin will be taken out of the basilica and into the public square for the funeral. The funeral Mass is due to start at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. Philippine time) with a choir singing introductory rites in Latin.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony in the vast square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. So far, around 50 heads of state have been confirmed as attending, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will deliver the homily and lead the Mass, which is expected to be con-celebrated by 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests con-celebrating in the square.

Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, will then be buried according to his wishes in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), to which he had a special devotion. The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903.

The funeral cortege will travel to the basilica from St. Peter's at walking pace. Crowds are expected to gather along the route, which is about 5.5 km (3.4 miles) long and will pass by many of Rome's famed monuments, including the Colosseum.

A group of poor people will be present on the steps leading to Mary Major to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, reflecting his devotion to serving the poor and oppressed during his reign.

The burial will be a private service, but visitors to the tomb will be allowed shortly afterwards. The tomb will be inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus.

The papal funeral marks the first of nine days of mourning for the global Church. — with Reuters and Agence France-Presse/VBL, GMA Integrated News