Remembering Pope Francis: a tribute from Durban's religious community

POPE Francis's funeral, which is expected to draw huge crowds, will take place on Saturday in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

His coffin, which he previously ordered, should be of wood and zinc, and would then be taken inside the church and from there to the Rome basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

The date was set by the first so-called "general congregation" of cardinals on Tuesday morning, which kicked-off a centuries-old process that culminates in the election of a new pontiff within three weeks. The Argentine pontiff, 88, died on Easter Monday from a stroke, less than a month after returning home from five weeks in hospital battling double pneumonia. In choosing to be buried in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, he will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican.

On Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, who announced the death of the pope, said: "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

Tributes poured in from around the globe for Pope Francis, who took over following the resignation of German theologian Benedict XVI in 2013. His home country, Argentina, prepared for a week of national mourning, while India began three days of state mourning on Tuesday; a rare honour for a foreign religious leader in the world's most populous nation.

Heads of state and royalty are expected for his funeral, with US President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron the first to announce they would attend even before a date was confirmed.

Local reaction

The Archbishop of Durban, the heads of churches and congregants paid tribute to Pope Francis and remembered him for his contributions to the Catholic church.