Ruth Sherlock

But afterwards, he reportedly told his personal health care assistant, thank you for bringing me back to the square.

But afterwards, he reportedly told his personal health care assistant, thank you for bringing me back to the square.

That's right. You know, this has the potential to be an important political moment, too. There may be some sensitive meetings that could happen on the sidelines. President Trump has confirmed he will attend, as will the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, which sets up the potential for them to meet for the first time since those tense public exchanges at the White House in March.

That's right. You know, this has the potential to be an important political moment, too. There may be some sensitive meetings that could happen on the sidelines. President Trump has confirmed he will attend, as will the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, which sets up the potential for them to meet for the first time since those tense public exchanges at the White House in March.

That's right. You know, this has the potential to be an important political moment, too. There may be some sensitive meetings that could happen on the sidelines. President Trump has confirmed he will attend, as will the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, which sets up the potential for them to meet for the first time since those tense public exchanges at the White House in March.

This is going to be Trump's first foreign trip of his second term and the first time he's in the same space as other key leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for example. Since the first time since he announced those controversial tariffs, the Italian government says over 100 foreign delegations are coming and that, like you said, some 200,000 people may attend.

This is going to be Trump's first foreign trip of his second term and the first time he's in the same space as other key leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for example. Since the first time since he announced those controversial tariffs, the Italian government says over 100 foreign delegations are coming and that, like you said, some 200,000 people may attend.

This is going to be Trump's first foreign trip of his second term and the first time he's in the same space as other key leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for example. Since the first time since he announced those controversial tariffs, the Italian government says over 100 foreign delegations are coming and that, like you said, some 200,000 people may attend.

Exactly. Well, popes are traditionally buried here in the Vatican grottos beneath St. Peter's Basilica, but Francis has chosen to be laid to rest outside the Vatican at the church in an immigrant area of Rome, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he'd go to pray to the icon of the Virgin Mary before and after each trip out of Rome.

Exactly. Well, popes are traditionally buried here in the Vatican grottos beneath St. Peter's Basilica, but Francis has chosen to be laid to rest outside the Vatican at the church in an immigrant area of Rome, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he'd go to pray to the icon of the Virgin Mary before and after each trip out of Rome.

Exactly. Well, popes are traditionally buried here in the Vatican grottos beneath St. Peter's Basilica, but Francis has chosen to be laid to rest outside the Vatican at the church in an immigrant area of Rome, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he'd go to pray to the icon of the Virgin Mary before and after each trip out of Rome.

I spoke with Ruben Martinez, a Spanish priest who'd arrived there to pay his respects to Francis. He's saying, you know, another journalist asked me if this is a sad moment. And I told him, no, this is a moment of hope. We're Christians, he told me. This is about Pope Francis' ascent to heaven.

I spoke with Ruben Martinez, a Spanish priest who'd arrived there to pay his respects to Francis. He's saying, you know, another journalist asked me if this is a sad moment. And I told him, no, this is a moment of hope. We're Christians, he told me. This is about Pope Francis' ascent to heaven.

I spoke with Ruben Martinez, a Spanish priest who'd arrived there to pay his respects to Francis. He's saying, you know, another journalist asked me if this is a sad moment. And I told him, no, this is a moment of hope. We're Christians, he told me. This is about Pope Francis' ascent to heaven.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

For past papal funerals, the pontiff was laid inside three nested coffins, one of cypress wood, one of elm and one of lead. They would be covered with a gold cloth and lie in state on a raised pedestal in front of the altar in St Peter's Basilica.

For past papal funerals, the pontiff was laid inside three nested coffins, one of cypress wood, one of elm and one of lead. They would be covered with a gold cloth and lie in state on a raised pedestal in front of the altar in St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis has done away with the more ornate parts of this tradition, just as he advocated for simplicity in life, shunning the wealth and frills that come with a papacy. So he's done so in death. When people stream into St Peter's Basilica, they will find him lying in a simple, single wood coffin lined with zinc. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome.