The pontiff will be laid to rest after a Mass in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The first Jesuit and first Latin American pope, he championed a more inclusive Roman Catholic Church.

Francis' funeral will take place Saturday morning at St. Peter's Basilica. The viewing of the casket of Pope Francis has ended, and his casket has been closed, according to the Vatican press office.

The funeral service for Pope Francis is taking place Saturday morning at the Vatican, after which the late leader of the Catholic Church will be buried in Rome. While the ceremony will follow many traditions developed over centuries of church history,