How to view Pope Francis in his open casket from Ireland

Pope Francis will be laid to rest after this funeral this weekend.

The pontiff passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following his battle with double pneumonia.

He is currently lying in state in an open casket to allow mourners to pay their last respects. His coffin will remain open until the night before the funeral.

Read more: Pope Francis' huge net worth despite turning down six figure salary

Read more: Pope Francis' connection to Ireland after living in Dublin for a time in the 1980s

Why is Pope Francis in an open casket?

This practice is rooted in tradition, with it historically done to allow people to verify that a pope had actually passed. This is no longer the case, as medical professionals are now involved in this process.

Having the late Pope lie in state also marks the beginning of the vacant see, also known as the sede vacante, which is the period between the current Pope’s death and the process to elect his successor.

How can you view Pope Francis lying in state?

Pope Francis’ body arrived inside St Peter's Basilica early on Wednesday, 23 April, with public viewings of the Pope 's coffin beginning at about 10am Irish time.

If you are not in Rome and want to pay your respects, several different news organisations have live broadcasts of the basilica, with coverage expected to continue for the coming days.

The BBC’s coverage can be found on YouTube here, while The Economic Times also has a live video on YouTube, found here. A third live on YouTube from Reuters can be viewed here.

What will happen next?

Pope Francis will lie in state for three days as funeral preparations get underway. This is part of a nine-day mourning period, referred to as the Novendiales.

His funeral mass will take place Saturday, 26 April, at 10AM Irish time, at St. Peter's Basilica.

He will be laid to rest at St Mary Major, a Roman basilica, where Pope Francis prayed before his trips abroad.

This is a break from Catholic tradition, with previous popes buried at St. Peter's Basilica, making him the first in 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican.

When will a new Pope be announced?

The Catholic Church will begin the process of choosing a new Pope after Pope Francis after the period of mourning comes to an end.

It will occur within a papal conclave, which is the gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Pope.

This process is highly guarded and done under strict rules and secrecy. It continues until a two-thirds majority has been voted for one candidate.

After each vote, smoke is released from a chimney installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, which indicates the results of the ballet. Black smoke means that a majority wasn’t met, whereas, white smoke confirms a new Pope has been elected.

The cardinal will then choose a papal name and the senior Cardinal Deacon will make an official announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the appearance of the new Pope.