Russian Culture Minister Lyubimova to represent Russia at Pope Francis's funeral - Kremlin

MOSCOW. April 23 (Interfax) - Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova will represent Russia at the funeral for Pope Francis by Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"By President Vladimir Putin's decision, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova will represent Russia at the Pope's funeral," Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after a severe illness on Monday morning.

The funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26.

The conclave to elect the new pope will start between May 5 and May 10.

Earlier on Wednesday, the cardinals held a ceremony to carry the coffin with Pope Francis's body to the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The coffin will be displayed for a farewell ceremony over the next three days, believers will be able to say goodbye and pay their respects to the Pope.

The Vatican published the Pope's will on Monday evening. He requested in his will to be buried in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the oldest basilicas in the Italian capital. It is a deviation from the tradition, according to which many heads of the Roman Catholic Church are buried on the territory of the Vatican.