The public viewing is largely meant as a chance for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday of 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:

Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican pays final respects to Pope Francis after a diplomatic dustup

In a post on X late Wednesday, Yaron Sideman shared a photo of himself in St. Peter’s Basilica, saying he had come “on behalf of the State of Israel.”

The Foreign Ministry earlier this week deleted a tweet expressing condolences over the death of Francis shortly after it was posted. It has not commented on the decision. Israeli media reported that the country’s ambassadors were furious.

Francis was critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, although he also called on Hamas to release hostages it was holding and condemned the rise in antisemitism.

JD Vance says it’s ‘pretty crazy’ he met Pope Francis hours before death

The U.S. vice president told reporters he “obviously” didn’t realize he’d be one of the last officials to see the pope, but called their Easter meeting “a great blessing.”

“I try to just, you know, remember that I was lucky that I got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every day, because I did and I do,” Vance, a Catholic convert, said Wednesday during his visit to India.

Italy’s prime minister celebrates ‘the people’s pope’

Speaking at the Italian parliament on Wednesday, conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni shared some personal advice Pope Francis gave her: “Never lose your sense of humor.”

But alongside this cheerful demeanor, Meloni praised Francis’ fortitude and courage to “go against the current.” She pointed to his constant appeals for peace in conflicts like Ukraine, the Middle East and North Africa — knowing his words might be distorted.

She also celebrated the late pope’s ability to talk freely with anyone, despite his exalted position.

“With him you were at ease, you could open up, without filters, without fear of being judged,” she told lawmakers. “He could see your soul, lay it bare.”

Two conservative cardinals bow out of the upcoming conclave to elect next pope

That brings the number of cardinal electors to 133 and deprives the conservative bloc of two necessary votes.

The Archdiocese of Valencia on Wednesday confirmed that Spanish Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, 79, will not be attending due to his health. Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic, 79, will similarly not attend he would not attend, citing health reasons, the Croatian HRT public broadcaster reported.

Cardinals have not yet said when the conclave would begin, but it could be as soon as May 5.

Vatican may keep St. Peter’s open past midnight for Pope Francis’ viewing

Citing the “elevated turnout’’ of faithful paying their respects, the Vatican said Wednesday that it may keep St. Peter’s Basilica open past midnight. No official numbers of how many people have entered the basilica have yet been released.

Thousands of people have been lining up in St. Peter’s Square since early Wednesday morning, some waiting hours to enter the basilica where Francis’ open casket has been set in front of the main altar. The initial plan was for the basilica to stay open until midnight Wednesday and Thursday, with the official period of mourning closing on Friday at 7 p.m. ahead of Saturday’s funeral.

Slovakia declares Saturday a day of mourning

Prime Minister Robert Fico said the day of Pope Francis’ funeral will be a day of national mourning. Slovakia is a Roman Catholic stronghold in Central Europe and President Peter Pellegrini is expected to attend the funeral.

Cardinals speak about needs of Catholic Church while honoring pope

Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the South Korean head of the Vatican’s office for priests, said he expected a short conclave but is non-committal on whether an Asian might be elected.

“For the Lord there is no west, nor east,” he said.

When asked by reporters what the church needs today, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria, referred to Francis’ call for the church to go out and meet the faithful where they are.

“(The pope) used very nice expressions ‘The church that goes out,’ ‘The church as a field hospital,’ ‘The church as a house with open doors,’” Zenari said, adding that it was “the right direction.”

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.

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.

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

Taiwan will send a 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.