UPDATE: |How Pope Francis’ funeral and burial will break with tradition as last wishes revealed News

Pope Francis had expressed that he wanted to be buried outside of Vatican City

The Catholic church has entered a period of mourning following the death of its leader Pope Francis at the age of 88.

He died on Easter Monday, just a day after blessing the thousands of people in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales said the pontiff’s death “brings great sadness to so many around the world, both within the Catholic Church and in societies in general”, while the King said he and the Queen were “most deeply saddened” to learn of the Pope’s death and “were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month”.

During the period of mourning, which will last nine days in total, the Pope will be buried and a funeral will be held. This usually takes place between four and six days after the Pope’s death, so it could be as soon as Friday, April 25.

The Pope shared his final wishes before his death, with many of his requests breaking away from tradition.

Pope Francis expressed that he wanted to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas, rather than at St Peter’s in the Vatican.

He reportedly made the decision as a sign of his devotion to the Virgin Mary as he had a “very strong connection” to the church.

Francis will be the first Pope in more than a century not to be buried in the Vatican.

Before the burial, the Pope’s body will be moved into St Peter’s so the public can pay their respects. The cardinals will reportedly decide when the move will take place on Tuesday.

Francis requested that his body would not be put on the catafalque, which is a raised platform, as is tradition. Instead, his body will be kept in his coffin, with the lid open so the public can see him.

He will be buried in a simple wooden coffin, lined with zinc, instead of the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.

The funeral will likely be led by the current dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

The service will be attended by guests from across the world and despite Francis’ wishes for the event to be scaled down compared to his predecessors, it will likely still be attended by thousands.

When Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, it is thought that around 4 million people gathered to pay their respects, making it one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in history.