LIVE: Vatican City | Pope Francis' Body Taken In Procession To St Peter's For Lying In State | N18G

The body of Pope Francis, laid out in an open coffin, was carried in a solemn procession on Wednesday (April 23) from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica.

Red-hatted cardinals, priests, candle-carrying friars and helmeted Swiss Guards walked slowly into the vast, sunlit esplanade as a male choir chanted psalms and prayers in Latin while the great bells of the basilica tolled.

The body of the 88-year-old pope, who died two days ago in his rooms at the Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke, was held aloft on a wooden platform by 14 white-gloved, black-suited pallbearers.

"Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow we now accompany the mortal remains of our Pope Francis to the Vatican Basilica," said the Irish-American cardinal Kevin Farrell at the start of the ceremony.

As the coffin crossed St. Peter's Square, a crowd of several thousand broke into repeated applause - a traditional Italian sign of respect at such events.

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