ROME, April 22 (Bernama-dpa) -- The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, the Vatican announced on Tuesday, after a meeting of cardinals, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Before he died, Francis expressed his desire to be buried at the church, one of his favourite places, and not in the grander St Peter's Basilica as is customary for deceased popes.
Global leaders are expected to attend the funeral.
Francis' body is currently lying in an open coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta guesthouse, his former residence, where cardinals, officials and employees of the Vatican are able to bid farewell to him.
Francis, who was 88, died of stroke and heart failure on Easter Monday morning.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
