Pope Francis’ wooden coffin will be sealed on Friday night, in a private rite that officially ends three days of his body lying in state at the Vatican.

Tens of thousands of mourners converged on the Vatican on Friday for a last chance to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis as a three-day-long period of lying in state entered its final few hours.

Three days of public viewing of Pope Francis’ body by ordinary mourners and statesmen alike have ended and the pontiff's coffin sealed.

At least 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, joining at least 50 heads of states, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron;

Heads of state and royalty will begin converging on Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, but the group of poor people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basil

There may be opportunities for impromptu diplomacy at one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in years.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri coordinated Francis' five-week hospital treatment for double pneumonia and continued to oversee the pope's treatment after his hospitalization.