Vatican Prepares for Pope's Funeral

The Vatican says Pope John Paul's body will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica beginning Monday afternoon at the earliest.

Nine days of official mourning began Sunday at the Vatican.

The pope's body is to be transferred from the papal apartment, where he died, to prepare it to lie in state.

A number of world leaders are expected to attend the pope's funeral later this week. Roman Catholic tradition says the funeral and burial must be held between the fourth and sixth day after death.

Traditionally a pope's body is buried in a crypt beneath St. Peter's Basilica. However, news media reports have mentioned that John Paul might have chosen to be buried in his native Poland.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.