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Inside the elaborate farewell to Pope Francis [1]

['Carole Cusack', 'The Conversation Storytelling Team']

Date: 2025-05 

Pope Francis is the sixth pope to lie in state in front of the main altar of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, which was finished in 1612 after more than a century of construction.

Lying in state provides an opportunity to pay respects to the distinguished dead.

The first pope to lie in state in front of the basilica's main altar was Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958.

Interment of Pope Pius XII in 1958 . Source: Anefo Wim van Rossem/Netherlands National Archives Interment of Pope Pius XII in 1958 . Source: Anefo Wim van Rossem/Netherlands National Archives

Tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica this week, you can see them gathering in this picture.

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[1] Url: https://stories.theconversation.com/inside-the-elaborate-farewell-to-pope-francis

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