Pope Moved to St. Peter's     04/23 06:30

   

   (AP) -- The body of Pope Francis will be moved Wednesday morning to St. 
Peter's Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff 
remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for 
peace.

   Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter's Square, 
but the public viewing is largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 
88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke.

   The basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to 
allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7 
p.m. local time.

   Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule Francis' funeral and 
burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about 
running the Catholic Church.

   Here's the latest:

   Congregants in Johannesburg attend special memorial mass for pope

   Despite the rain on Wednesday, about 200 filled the Cathedral of Christ the 
King for the Mass led by Cardinal Stephen Brislin of South Africa, who was made 
a cardinal by Francis in 2023.

   Pews were lit up with large white candles, while a framed photograph of 
Francis was put on display as Brislin reflected on the late pope's message of 
tolerance for all.

   The service was also attended by leaders of South Africa's African National 
Congress political party, including its secretary general, Fikile Mbalula.

   Maxima Louw, a 50-year-old man who has been attending services at the 
cathedral for more than a decade, said Pope Francis was like a spiritual father 
to him.

   "And I believe that I'm looking up to (the) pope every day. May his gentle 
soul rest in perfect peace."

   Throngs of faithful start paying final respects to pope

   They made their way slowly to the main altar of the 16th-century St. Peter's 
Basilica, where Francis' simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as 
four Swiss Guards stood at attention.

   Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass 
through the basilica.

   Papua New Guinea's 1st and only cardinal will attend funeral

   John Ribat is preparing to leave the poor South Pacific island on Wednesday.

   "The important thing is that ... Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the 
global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the 
conclave, it is a big thing," the 68-year-old Archbishop of Port Moresby told 
Australian Broadcasting Corp.

   Francis appointed Ribat a cardinal in 2016. The pope last year visited the 
diverse nation with an estimated population of 12 million people and more than 
800 languages.

   The Vatican opens St. Peter's Basilica to general public

   This will allow the faithful to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, as 
thousands filled the central aisle.

   Taiwan will send former top official to funeral

   Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic, will represent the island democracy, the 
government said Wednesday.

   Relations with the Vatican are especially important to Taiwan because the 
Holy See is the only European state to recognize the island's sovereignty in 
defiance of China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory to be annexed 
by force if necessary.

   Chen is a former vice president and premier and recipient of several of the 
Vatican's highest honors. Though less than 5% of Taiwan's population is 
Catholic, the church has roots on the island dating back to 17th-century 
Spanish explorers.

   Israeli Foreign Ministry deletes pope condolences post

   The ministry refused to comment on its decision to post and then quickly 
delete the post on X, which said: "Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory 
be a blessing."

   According to Israeli media, Israeli ambassadors, especially those serving in 
predominantly Catholic countries, were furious over the deleted post.

   Pope Francis was critical of Israel's war in Gaza, and exceptionally close 
to the Catholic church there, but had also called on Hamas to release the 
hostages and condemned the rise in antisemitism.

   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made any public comment on the 
pope's passing.

   Mourners watch Francis' casket being moved

   The casket passed them by along the same path the pope had travelled just 
days before, on Easter Sunday, in what became his final popemobile tour through 
the faithful.

   It was a surprise salute, which Francis decided at the last minute after 
being assured he could do it despite his continued frail health from pneumonia.

   The bells of St. Peter's toll as the body of the pope is transferred

   The procession included solemn cardinals, prelates and Swiss Guards 
escorting the pontiff to where he will lie in state.

   A choir chanted as the cardinals processed slowly through the archway gates 
leading out into the piazza.

   JD Vance says he won't attend the pope's funeral

   The U.S. vice president is currently on a four-day visit to India.

   He said Wednesday that while he was able to see Pope Francis on Easter 
Sunday during his Vatican visit over the weekend, he didn't "realize how sick 
he was" and that he would always remember the pontiff as a "great pastor."

   Ceremony to transfer Pope Francis' body begins

   His body will be transferred from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. 
Peter's Basilica for three days of public viewing.

   Philippines' Marcos remembers Francis as 'best pope in my lifetime'

   Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. -- the leader of the largest Roman 
Catholic nation in Asia -- and his wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos, will attend the 
funeral in Rome of Pope Francis, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro 
said on Wednesday.

   Churches across the Philippines rang their bells Monday to mourn the death 
of Francis, who visited the country in 2015 to console survivors of Typhoon 
Haiyan.

   Trump will head to Rome for funeral

   Trump is planning to leave Washington on Friday morning to fly to Rome for 
Pope Francis' funeral services.

   He'll return Saturday evening, once services are over.

   White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the president's 
travel plans during her briefing with reporters on Tuesday. She did not provide 
details on whether Trump will meet with foreign leaders during the trip, or who 
might travel with him as part of a U.S. delegation.