The public funeral Mass is being held in front of St. Peter's Basilica, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding. The funeral will be less formal than other papal funerals, with Francis having made changes last year around the process, including the use of a modest wooden coffin.

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, will be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.

World leaders, cardinals and at least 200,000 of the faithful are expected to gather in the Vatican on Saturday morning to bid farewell to Pope Francis.