The mourners visit Pope Francis, lying in a state in St. Peter’s Basilica

The mourners give their respect to Pope Francis, whose body was moved from his residence to the Vatican to St. Peter’s Basilica before his funeral on Saturday.

The open ark of the Pope was transferred on Wednesday morning to a solemn procession through St. Peter’s Square, where 20,000 pilgrims had gathered, the Vatican reported.

As the ark crossed the square, bells threw themselves, and the crowds erupted in applause, a traditional Italian sign of respect.

The Pope died on Monday 88 years after a stroke and a battle with double pneumonia, for which he spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year. The first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, he played the role of 12 years.

On Wednesday, red slaves and white priests were touring the ark of the Pope from his personal residence at the guest house of Santa Martha to the Basilica of St. Peter. The procession lasted just under 40 minutes.

Swiss guards responsible for the safety of the Pope accompanied their ark to the church altar.

His body will be able to lie in church until Friday night. Public viewing began at 11:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Wednesday.

The crowds gathered in the morning to give their respect, with hundreds joined during the procession.

Louis and Macarena from Mexico had come to Rome for their honeymoon and hoped to see the Pope, who gives a special blessing to the newlyweds. Lewis told the BBC, seeing the last place to rest the Pope, would allow them to feel a connection.

“Pope Francis is a saint and he will bless us from heaven,” Louis said.

Mary Ellen, an American who lives in Italy, said she came to the Vatican on a train overnight to “say goodbye.”

“I love Dad Francesco,” she said. “Because he is humble, kind, he loves immigrants. I know he is reconciled with many difficult things in the Vatican. He fights against the power and power of the Vatican to be a true Christian, a real Catholic.”

She said that when she passed the ark, she would pray and ask Pope Francis for help with her own work with immigrants.

Fredrik, who is from Ghana but comes from Poland, said the Pope “did everything possible” and “remained to continue good deeds.”

Eva Assensio, a Mexican on vacation in Italy, said he was affinative of the Argentine Pope.

“We saw him as a good pope – someone who supported everyone, regardless of your sexual orientation, no matter where you came from. He united us,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Margo, who is French and lives in Rome, said it was “powerful to live this”.

For her, Pope Francis meant “hope” and his more progressive social views were “very important,” she said.

“I hope the next Pope follows his path,” she said.

Dignities from all over the world, including the United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Kiir Starmer and Prince William, will attend the funeral on Saturday.

Pope Francis left clear instructions that he wanted a smaller ceremony in accordance with his simpler tastes like Pontif. He had settled a benefactor to pay for all this.

Unlike the vast majority of his predecessors, he will not be buried in St. Peter, but in a church dedicated to the Virgin in Central Rome, under a tombstone, registered only with his name.

Before moving to St. Peter, Pope Francis lay in an open ark in the chapel of his home, surrounded by Swiss guards and cardinals in prayer.

His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, where he made brief remarks to the tables gathered at St. Peter Square from a wheelchair. He then congratulated the worshipers and the blessing babies while he was driven in a car through the crowds.

His papal apartments are sealed with wax – marking the beginning of the period, known as Seda Vakanta – or the empty place – which continues until a new head of the church is elected.

Additional reporting by Jorge Perez