Pope Francis’ funeral live updates: Thousands begin to gather in vast square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica

The pallbearers bow as they place the coffin on a temporary riser.

Cardinal Re places a book of the Gospels on top of the coffin, before he walks around the stage with incense.

He opens the funeral mass with prayer.

Crowds gather along the road outside of the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.

More than 220 red-robed cardinals have formed two solemn lines inside the main corridor of the Vatican as Pope Francis’ mortal remains are carried into St Peter’s Square on the shoulders of pallbearers.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, is in front of the leading the procession.

A Vatican choir sings as the Pope is brought out to a packed square.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Première Dame, or First Lady, Brigitte Macron have had their moment with the pope.

They were followed by Prince William, who is attending on behalf of his father King Charles and the British royal family.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also appeared, as has Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The funeral bells at St Peter’s Basilica have begun their toll ahead of official proceedings beginning at Pope Francis’ funeral.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have entered the Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis.

They are among the dozens of dignitaries and religious leaders filing through to have their moment of silent prayer with the pontiff.

Former US President Joe Biden and former US First Lady Jill Biden have arrived at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.

Seemingly in good spirits, Mr Biden was spotted taking selfies with other attendees.

Scenes in Vatican City as members of the clergy, nuns and pilgrims gather for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.

Today may mark the official funeral of the pope, but the whole process started on Monday.

Papal funerals are steeped in tradition dating back centuries, so much so there’s essentially a manual for it called the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs).

Here’s what happened at the Vatican:

April 21 – Day 1: Pope’s death confirmed

The pope’s death is confirmed by the camerlengo, akin to the treasurer of the Holy See. It’s currently Irish Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Church bells toll in St Peter’s Square and across Rome, the Vatican’s flags are lowered to half-mast, and cardinals across the world are summoned to the city.

Cardinal Farrell then leads a ceremony at the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, which functions as a guest house for visiting clergy. It’s also where the many cardinals who are flocking to the Vatican will stay.

The camerlengo authorises the death certificate, and the pope’s personal belongings are secured and inventoried.

The Ring of the Fisherman is removed and cut to symbolise the end of his papacy.

He is dressed in his papal regalia, which include red robes, white Cossack and the miter (pointed hat), his Fisherman’s Ring is returned, and rosary beads are placed in his hands before he is put in his coffin.

Popes of the past have traditionally been buried in three coffins: the first made of cypress wood, the second of lead and a third of elm or oak wood.

But Pope Francis revised this extravagant tradition, ruling last year that papal funerals need use only one coffin: wooden and lined in zinc.

The seals of Vatican officials are usually impressed on the coffin.

April 22 – Day 2: The College of Cardinals meet

The College of Cardinals, a group of the church’s most senior officials, meet to discuss the date and plans for the pope’s funeral.

They also discuss the process of choosing a successor, the conclave, but this doesn’t begin until weeks later.

April 23 – Day 3: The Rite of Translation

Pope Francis is taken from the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae to St Peter’s Basilica, around 9am local time, where he will lie in state for three days for the public to pay their respects.

The procession is led by members of the College of Cardinals present in Rome, through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs.

They then go through the Arch of the Bells into St Peter’s Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door.

Public visits commence around 11am local time.

April 24 – Day 4: Public viewings continue

More than 50,000 people have paid their respects to Pope Francis in the 24 hours since the Basilica opened.

April 25 – Day 5: Sealing of the coffin

Pope Francis’ coffin is sealed during a liturgical rite at St. Peter’s Basilica at 8pm local time, attended by several cardinals and Holy See officials.

As camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell presides over the rite. The pope is blessed with holy water and his face covered with white silk.

A document of his papacy, known as a rogito, is placed in the coffin. A second copy is archived at the Vatican.

During the ceremony attendees sing Psalm 42, which begins: “As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.”

April 26 – Day 6: The funeral

Starting 10am local time, roughly 2.5-hour service held mainly in Latin will be attended by global dignitaries, religious leaders and thousands of mourners alike.

There is a procession to St Peter’s Square, usually led by a priest carrying a cross, followed by the coffin and then ordained clergy.

The coffin is then set down in St Peter’s Square and a book of the Gospels placed on top.

Then the Dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will preside over the funeral mass, which will include various hymns and scripture.

The pope’s body will then be carried through the “door of death” at St Peter’s Basilica as bells toll and psalms are chanted.

He will then be taken to the Basilica of St Mary Major, outside the walls of Vatican City, for burial in keeping with his wishes.

The camerlengo presides over the private entombment.

A nine-day period of mourning, known as the Novemdiales, begins.

Huge crowds are beginning to form for Pope Francis’ funeral mass in the vast square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony to pay their respects, including about 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.

More than 15,000 people have already tuned in to watch the live stream provided by Vatican News.