The coffin with the mortal remains of Pope Francis will be brought to the basilica of "Santa Maria Maggiore" with the Popemobile, which the Holy Father used to travel in his lifetime, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
It specifies that a special open platform has been installed on the vehicle. This way, everyone will be able to say goodbye to Pope Francis on his last journey, ANSA specifies.
The agency adds that official guests have now begun to arrive at "St. Peter" Square, with former US President Joe Biden already taking his place.
Heads of state, prime ministers, monarchs and 130 foreign delegations have confirmed their presence at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican today, summarizes Agence France-Presse and presents a list of high-ranking guests. The funeral ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. Bulgarian time (10:00 Italian time).
Bulgaria is represented by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. He leads a delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See Kostadin Kodjabashev, the Prime Minister's press service announced on April 23.
At 11:00 Bulgarian time (10:00 Italian time), the funeral mass will begin, led by the deacon of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re.
At 11:30 our time, the coffin is scheduled to be brought into the Basilica of "Santa Maria Maggiore".