Final Preparations Underway for Pope Francis's Grand Funeral as Mourning Continues
The Vatican is set to finalize preparations on Friday for the funeral of Pope Francis, with the last wave of large crowds of mourners expected to pass through St. Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to the late pontiff. On Saturday, a funeral service will take place in St. Peter's Square, attended by around 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs, including noteworthy figures such as US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who are anticipated to arrive in Rome on Friday.
In light of the significant attendance, Italian and Vatican authorities have ramped up security around St. Peter's, implementing measures that include drone surveillance, rooftop snipers, and fighter jets on standby to ensure safety during the event. Tens of thousands have already queued, some for hours, to honor the late Pope, whose coffin is set to be closed at 8 PM local time in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo tasked with the Vatican's administrative affairs until a new pope is selected.
Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America, passed away on Monday at the age of 88, just weeks after facing severe pneumonia that required hospitalization. Veronique Montes-Coulomb, a tourist from Toulouse, France, expressed her surprise upon learning of his death after witnessing him appear relatively healthy in the popemobile during the last Easter mass; the pontiff’s final public appearance.
Condolences have poured in globally for Francis, who dedicated his 12-year tenure as the leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics to advocating for the marginalized in society. In his last address, he passionately spoke against those who spread contempt towards the vulnerable, emphasizing the importance of compassion.
An estimated 130 foreign delegations are expected at the funeral, which will include international leaders such as Argentina's President Javier Milei and Britain's Prince William. A no-fly zone will be enforced to maintain order and security during the ceremony. For three days, Pope Francis’s coffin has been displayed before St. Peter's altar, with him adorned in papal vestments: a red chasuble, white mitre, and black shoes.
Visitors have taken moments to reflect as they say their goodbyes, with Italian resident Massimo Palo remarking, 'He was a pope amongst his flock and I hope the next papacies will be a bit like his.' Given the upcoming public holiday on Friday, Italy's civil protection agency anticipates that several hundred thousand people will converge on Rome for the funeral weekend.
Following the funeral, Pope Francis's coffin will be transported at a walking pace to be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore, his favorite church in the city. His grave will be simply marked with the name 'Franciscus.' The public will have the opportunity to visit his tomb starting Sunday morning.
Attention will soon shift to the crucial process of electing his successor. Cardinals from around the world are currently gathering in Rome for the funeral and upcoming conclave, where they will determine the next leader of the Catholic Church. In the absence of a pope, the cardinals have started daily meetings to orchestrate the next steps, with another meeting scheduled for Friday. While a date for the conclave has not yet been announced, it must commence between 15 to 20 days following the pope's death, with only those under the age of 80 eligible to vote, currently making up about 135 cardinals.
Related Sources: