Tens of thousands of mourners have begun to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II.
Public viewing of the Pope's body began this evening in St Peter's Basilica.
Barriers have been set up to contain the crowds, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to file solemnly past the body in the next few days. Authorities in Rome say that up to two million people could converge on the city.
Earlier, the late Pontiff's remains were taken on a bier from the Papal apartments to the nearby St Peter's Square.
His body was solemnly blessed in the Clementine Rooms of the apartments before they were taken in solemn procession to St Peter's Basilica.
The Pope's funeral will take place on Friday morning at 9am Irish time and he will be buried in St Peter's crypt in the Vatican.
The details were announced by the Vatican's spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, following a meeting of the College of Cardinals this morning.
The Taoiseach and President McAleese will be attending the funeral, along with five Irish bishops.
Meanwhile, the cardinals are preparing for the election of a successor which will take place later this month. The cardinals will swear an oath to maintain strict secrecy.
The 84-year-old Pope died on Saturday night. An official death certificate issued by the Vatican said that he died from septic shock and irreversible heart failure.
Masses of remembrance to take place
A Solemn Mass of Remembrance for the Pope will be concelebrated in the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto tomorrow evening.
The mass, which will begin at 5.45pm, will be attended by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and all Government ministers.
This evening, the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady, will celebrate mass in St Patrick's Church in Armagh at 7.30pm.
At 8pm, the Bishop of Clogher will say a mass of remembrance in St McCartan's Cathedral in Monaghan.
The Apostolic Nunciature at the Navan Road in Dublin has opened a book of condolences for signing. The Taoiseach signed the book this morning.
The Mansion House in Dublin has also opened a book of condolences.
If you wish to sign a Book of Condolence click here
