Summary

Media caption,

Key moments from Pope Francis' funeral

  1. First attendees arrive at St Peter's Squarepublished at 05:35 British Summer Time 26 April

    We can bring you images now from St Peter's Square, where the arrival of the first mourners has coincided with the sunrise over Vatican City. The square opened at 06:00 local time (05:00 BST).

    People walk around St Peter's Square, with security checks in the backgroundImage source, Getty Images
    Nuns queue on the streetImage source, Getty Images
    Police officers stand guard as people queueImage source, Getty Images
  2. A hushed Rome reckons with Pope's deathpublished at 05:23 British Summer Time 26 April

    Laura Gozzi
    Reporting from Rome

    Nuns hold pictures of Pope Francis outside the St Peter's SquareImage source, Getty Images

    The seat at the Vatican had been vacant for two days when a group of grey-clad nuns stood on St Peter's Square and started to sing.

    Softly at first then louder, as if to encourage those who joined in timidly, the nuns broke into Ave Maria.

    Every so often they shuffled a few inches forward, following the queue for Pope Francis's lying in state. And all the while they sang, their faces turned to St Peter's Basilica to their left, their white veils glistening under their large sun hats.

    It was a fitting sight for an extraordinary week in which Rome has seemed to regain its reputation as the "capital of the world" – and St Peter's Square as the centre of the Catholic universe.

    There is mourning, but also recognition that the Pope, who lived to 88, died quickly and peacefully.

    Yet this isn't the time for celebration either - that will have to wait until after today's funeral, when the conclave will spark the usual frenzy of excitement, intrigue and inevitable speculation.

  3. How Pope Francis's funeral will unfoldpublished at 05:06 British Summer Time 26 April

    After lying in state for the past three days, Pope Francis's coffin will soon be removed from St Peter's Basilica and carried out to St Peter's Square - located just outside the front doors.

    The funeral mass will be held outdoors, with heads of state and tens of thousands of mourners expected to gather in the public square.

    The ceremony will begin at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) and is expected to last for around an hour and a half.

    After the mass has ended, Francis's body will be transported to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial.

    A nine-day mourning period will then begin.

    A view of the people, cardinals and bishops in attendance at the Pope's funeral. positioned all around st peter's square
  4. Faithful queue through night ahead of funeralpublished at 04:58 British Summer Time 26 April

    Overnight, we were sent images from Rome of mourners queuing in the early hours of this morning along the streets near the Vatican.

    Here's a selection from the Reuters news agency, which we received between 03:00 and 05:00 local time (02:00 and 04:00 BST):

    People wait in line, some wrapped in sleeping bags, along a street in the darkImage source, Reuters
    Four people wrapped in blankets sit near some railings on the side of a street in the darkImage source, Reuters
    A large group of young people sit on cobble stones in the middle of a busy square at nightImage source, Reuters
  5. Vatican readies for Pope Francis's funeral masspublished at 04:57 British Summer Time 26 April

    Via della Conciliazione street empty, with a view of St Peter's BasilicaImage source, Getty Images

    The sun is about to begin rising over St Peter's Basilica, the site where the late Pope Francis has been lying in state for the last three days.

    More than 250,000 people from across the globe have come offer their final goodbyes in that time. Today marks the beginning of the next phase of his papal rites.

    The funeral mass will commence at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST), with thousands of mourners expected to gather in front of the basilica for the outdoor ceremony.

    Our correspondents in Vatican City will be providing live updates and snap analysis on this page throughout the day.

    You can also follow developments by pressing the watch live button above.

    Police officers stand near the basilicaImage source, Reuters