Pope Francis's body has been moved to St Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days ahead of his funeral on Saturday. The coffin of the late pontiff, who died on Easter Monday aged 88, was moved from his residence at Casa Santa Marta to the basilica on Wednesday morning.

Francis will lie in state for three days before his funeral on Saturday (April 26), when heads of state from around the world will gather to pay their respects to the world's first Latin American pontiff, who died aged 88 on Easter Monday.The bells of St Peter’s tolled as the body of the pope was transferred to St Peter's Basilica in a procession which included cardinals, prelates and Swiss Guards. A choir chanted as the cardinals processed slowly through the gates which open into the piazza, which was filled with mourners.

Pallbearers carried the pope's simple wooden coffin on their shoulders as the cardinals dressed in scarlet cassocks followed behind with the Swiss Guards by their sides in gold and blue uniforms.

St Peter's Basilica will remain open until midnight (11pm BST) on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7pm (6pm BST).

Before the procession, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican administration until a new pope is elected, presided over a moving ceremony in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived.

Francis first lay in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.

Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday (April 22) showed Francis lying in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, with his hands clasping a rosary. Cardinal Pietro Parolin was pictured praying by Francis.

Inside St Peter's Basilica his casket wasn't placed on an elevated bier as was the case with past popes. His coffin was placed on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, facing the pews.

Italian police have tightened security for the viewing and the funeral, carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican where mourners continued to arrive.

The funeral will take place on Saturday from 10am (9am BST) in St Peter’s Square. It will be attended by leaders including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky.

Kensington Palace confirmed on Tuesday that the Prince of Wales, a future head of the Church of England, will attend on behalf of the King.

In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of papal burials in St Peter's Basilica.

He requested a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, and his body will not be placed on an elevated platform, but instead will lie facing the pews.

As the procession made its way through St Peter's Square, the bells of the basilica tolled, marking the passage of Pope Francis's coffin.

Cardinals in scarlet cassocks followed behind, flanked by Swiss Guards in their traditional blue and gold uniforms.?

The Pope's body had initially lain in state at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, his Vatican residence, where a private viewing was held for Vatican residents and members of the papal household.

Images released by the Vatican showed Francis dressed in red liturgical vestments, with his hands folded over a rosary.

Security measures have been heightened around the Vatican, with Italian police conducting foot and horse patrols as pilgrims continue to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations.

The faithful who pass through St Peter's Holy Door during this period are granted indulgences, a traditional practice symbolising the remission of sins. ?

Following the funeral, Pope Francis will be interred at the Basilica of St Mary Major, in accordance with his wishes.

History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, but he alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism, migration and climate change.

He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and pope-mobile tour through a cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square.

Francis reportedly had some reservations about looping through the square packed with 50,000 faithful, according to Vatican News. But the pontiff overcame them and was said to be grateful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.

Cardinals will be continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave to elect Francis’ successor and make further decisions about how to run the Catholic Church in the interim.