As bells tolled solemly, a procession of patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, canons and other priests exited the Casa Santa Marta, carrying Pope Francis’ body.

The prcession will travel through the Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs to St. Peter’s Square under the Arch of the Bells before going into the Basilica through the central door. 

Public will then be able to pay to pay their respects starting 11.00 a.m. (5 a.m. ET).

A second General Congregation is scheduled for this afternoon after Pope Francis’ body is carried to St. Peter’s Basilica.

These congregations are a daily gathering of the College of Cardinals, who presently govern the Vatican, to plan the funerals and the upcoming conclave. Yesterday, 60 cardinals gathered in the Synod Hall for the occasion.

NBC News’ Tom Llamas visited a local Rome shop named “Hedera,” which has made delicious deserts, including homemade gelato and award-winning cakes, for years. It also became one of Pope Francis’ favorite locations for a sweet treat.

Pope Francis’ body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basicilia this morning ahead of his funeral on Saturday. His lying in state will be open to public and worshippers will be able to pay their respects to the first Latin American pope.

While estimates vary for how many people are expected to visit, over 2 million mourners lined up to view Pope John Paul II’s body in 2005, according to the Italian Civil Protection agency.

For Elijah Smith, who grew up Lutheran and Southern Baptist, Pope Francis’ teachings centering on social justice and recognition of the marginalized helped to influence his decision to convert to Catholicism a year ago.

“He led by example,” said Smith, 22, a college student from Rockwell, North Carolina, “and he was very accepting. Accepting of the LGBTQ community, accepting of immigrants and very understanding of different cultures.”

But with Francis’ death Monday at 88, the Catholic Church is at a crossroads: After 12 years of his leadership, does it continue on a progressive path to invigorate new followers with a message of inclusivity, or return to traditional roots at a time when some have yearned for church doctrine bound by conservative customs and liturgy?

For centuries, the church’s traditional Mass was said in Latin and required priests to face the altar with their backs to the congregation, until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s sought to modernize rituals. Changes included Mass being conducted in local languages and laypeople becoming integral to the services’ readings.

But in 2007, Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, relaxed restrictions, allowing the celebration of Latin Mass to return.

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