Bidin' Adieu to Pope Francis: Thousands Gather to Pay Their Respects
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Mass Gathering: Followers Bid Adieu to Pope Francis - The religious institution announces Pope Francis' departure
In the heart of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis, the Pope who made his final journey on Easter Monday at the ripe age of 88, now lies in a humble open coffin, under the altar. Hordes of believers, desperate to bid farewell to their spiritual leader, queued for hours upon hours on St. Peter's Square, some even managing a smirking selfie with the deceased.
According to counts from the Vatican, around 20,000 individuals paid their last respects to Francis within the initial eight and a half hours of the public viewing in St. Peter's Basilica. It was estimated that over 100,000 gathered on the square in the afternoon. Until the evening of Friday, people had the chance for a final look at Francis. Afterward, the coffin will be secured shut. On Saturday, a funeral requiem will take place on St. Peter's Square, attracting heads of state from across the globe. Later, Francis will find rest a few kilometers away in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, as per his own wishes.
The deceased Argentinean was transported from Casa Santa Marta, his residence within the Vatican bastion, to St. Peter's Basilica, more than 48 hours after his demise. Escorted by eight Swiss Guards and flanked by several dozen cardinals, the funeral procession brought a brooding air to the city. The bells tolled once more as the coffin arrived on the square, causing an eruption of applause.
It was on Easter Sunday that Francis, in his last public appearance, glanced weakly at the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square, from the confinement of the Popemobile. His lifeless body was then borne away the next morning, the second-oldest pope in history succumbing to the consequences of a stroke, after a prolonged battle with a severe lung infection in hospital.
Construction works were still ongoing at his soon-to-be resting place. Only his name, Franciscus, will be inscribed on his grave in Santa Maria Maggiore, with a humble wooden panel concealing the site. The surrounding security measures had been heightened all around the Vatican, given the gravity of the occasion. The city would be in a state of emergency during the burial on Saturday.
Politicians and church representatives from every corner of the world will attend the grand funeral requiem: Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, António Guterres, and many more. Steinmeier and Scholz will represent Germany.
Rites and rituals have never been Francis's forte. In St. Peter's Basilica, his body lies in a simple wooden coffin, clad in red attire and a white headdress. A rosary adorns his hands. Unlike his predecessors, there will be no elaborate catafalque or pompous ploy, only his name inscribed in Latin.
After the funeral rituals have run their course, thoughts will turn to the conclave, expected to commence in the second week of May. Normally, 135 cardinals aged under 80 would be eligible to vote for the new Pontiff. However, due to health issues, two cardinals - Cañizares and Puljić - have withdrawn from the race, leaving 133 churchmen to decide who will take up the mantle.
The voting process is shrouded in secrecy. There's no predetermined time limit, and the new Pope must secure a two-thirds majority to be elected. Once elected, white smoke will emerge from the chimney. Until then, smoke after voting will remain black.
- Pope Francis
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Death
- Rome
- St. Peter's Square
- Lying in State
- Vatican
- Santa Maria Maggiore
- Easter Monday
- US President
- Donald Trump
- Santa Marta
- Easter Sunday
Funeral and Burial Customs:
- Funeral Procession: Pope Francis's body will be dressed in a white cassock and red vestments, displaying a simple wooden coffin during public viewing at St. Peter’s Basilica[1][3].
- Public Viewing: The public viewing will last three days, with the deceased pope lying at ground level to emphasize humility[1]. Over 50,000 mourners visited within the first 12 hours[2].
- The Dead Pope's Attire: Pope Francis will be dressed in a white cassock and red vestments, a departure from traditional black robes[3].
- Burial: Francis will be buried in a simplified zinc coffin inside a wooden casket, marking a departure from the elaborate tradition of using three coffins of cypress, lead, and elm[2].
- Grave location: Unlike previous popes, Francis will be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica, making this the first papal burial outside the Vatican in centuries[3].
- The public viewing of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica included a simple wooden coffin, dressed in white cassock and red vestments, displaying a humble departure from traditional attire.
- Over 50,000 mourners visited during the first 12 hours of the public viewing, emphasizing the global impact and influence of Pope Francis.
- In a departure from historical tradition, Pope Francis will be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, marking the first papal burial outside the Vatican in centuries.
- Heads of state from countries such as the US, Ukraine, European Union, and United Nations, along with many others, will attend the funeral requiem of Pope Francis, symbolizing the international significance of the event.
