VATICAN CITY - The body of Pope John Paul will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public view later on Monday ahead of an open-air funeral on Friday, the Vatican said.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said cardinals decided the funeral arrangements at a meeting on Monday- the first time they had gathered since John Paul's death on Saturday.

Navarro-Valls said the cardinals had not yet fixed a date for the start of the conclave to elect a new pope.

Pope John Paul's body is on display in a Vatican hall at present and will start being moved in a procession from around 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Monday out into St Peter's square, entering the basilica through the main doors.

Pilgrims will be able to start filing past the body later in the evening.

Navarro-Valls said the church would remain open through Monday night to allow the huge crowds to pay their respects, adding that if necessary it would stay open night and day until Friday's funeral.

"On Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica the funeral Mass for John paul II will be held," the spokesman said.

The Mass will be celebrated by cardinals and will be presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Navarro-Valls confirmed that the Pope would be buried under the Basilica, as is customary for deceased pontiffs.

"At the end of the Holy Mass the coffin with the Roman Pontiff will be brought into the Vatican Basilica and then into the Vatican grottoes for burial."