The body of Pope Francis, laid out in an open coffin, was carried in a solemn procession on Wednesday (April 23) from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica.

Red-hatted cardinals, priests, candle-carrying friars and helmeted Swiss Guards walked slowly into the vast, sunlit esplanade as a male choir chanted psalms and prayers in Latin while the great bells of the basilica tolled.

The body of the 88-year-old pope, who died two days ago in his rooms at the Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke, was held aloft on a wooden platform by 14 white-gloved, black-suited pallbearers.

"Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow we now accompany the mortal remains of our Pope Francis to the Vatican Basilica," said the Irish-American cardinal Kevin Farrell at the start of the ceremony.

As the coffin crossed St. Peter's Square, a crowd of several thousand broke into repeated applause - a traditional Italian sign of respect at such events.

Pope Francis, who spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year being treated for double pneumonia, last appeared in public on Sunday (April 20), when he surprised pilgrims by being driven around the packed square in his white, open-topped popemobile.

His body will lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica until Friday evening (April 25), allowing the faithful to pay their respects.

(Production: Chiara Rodriquez)