In a solemn atmosphere, the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica Friday morning to honor Pope Francis, whose funeral is set for the following day.
A Heartfelt Farewell: Mourners Honor Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica
A Heartfelt Farewell: Mourners Honor Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica
Thousands flock to the Vatican to pay their final respects to the late pontiff, reflecting his profound impact on the global community.
The doors of St. Peter's Basilica swung open at 5:40 a.m. on Friday, inviting mourners to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, who lies in a simple wooden coffin beneath Michelangelo's iconic dome. As the day progressed, this trickle of visitors became a flood, with thousands of individuals moving through the basilica to say farewell to the beloved pontiff. Francis’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, after which he will be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a site of special significance to him.
Since Francis’s body was moved to the basilica on Wednesday, it has remained nearly open around the clock. By 8 a.m. Friday, the Vatican reported that 128,000 people had already come to pay their respects. The lines to pass by his coffin have been lengthy, often stretching for hours. “It’s normal because so many people loved him,” shared Daniela Sirigu, a Rome resident who took part in the communal mourning. “It meant a lot to me to see him; he gave us so much,” she added, as she listened to a symphony of languages spoken around her while waiting to pay tribute.
In preparation for the ceremony, both national and local agencies heightened security and started closing roads around Vatican City, anticipating the arrival of approximately 130 government delegations for the funeral, including 50 heads of state and 10 ruling monarchs, as the Vatican announced Thursday.
Volunteers donned lime green vests while civil protection and Red Cross workers in red were stationed around the Vatican, readying for any emergencies and providing assistance to confused tourists. Local garbage collectors reported an increase in activity over the previous days, reflecting the high number of visitors arriving to commemorate Pope Francis's life and legacy.
Since Francis’s body was moved to the basilica on Wednesday, it has remained nearly open around the clock. By 8 a.m. Friday, the Vatican reported that 128,000 people had already come to pay their respects. The lines to pass by his coffin have been lengthy, often stretching for hours. “It’s normal because so many people loved him,” shared Daniela Sirigu, a Rome resident who took part in the communal mourning. “It meant a lot to me to see him; he gave us so much,” she added, as she listened to a symphony of languages spoken around her while waiting to pay tribute.
In preparation for the ceremony, both national and local agencies heightened security and started closing roads around Vatican City, anticipating the arrival of approximately 130 government delegations for the funeral, including 50 heads of state and 10 ruling monarchs, as the Vatican announced Thursday.
Volunteers donned lime green vests while civil protection and Red Cross workers in red were stationed around the Vatican, readying for any emergencies and providing assistance to confused tourists. Local garbage collectors reported an increase in activity over the previous days, reflecting the high number of visitors arriving to commemorate Pope Francis's life and legacy.
