Thousands mourn Pope Francis in his final hours of public viewing
Unfiltered Narrative:
Friday night saw a sea of mourners filling St. Peter's Basilica, paying their last respects to the late Pope Francis. With his open coffin on display, visitors, both Italian and international, took their final glimpse before the funeral the next day. The police, sensing the queues long into the evening, decided to shut down the broadcast of the visitation ahead of a private ceremony to secure the casket.
As the clock struck 7 PM (1700 GMT), those at the tail end of the line were welcomed, including the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. They stood by the casket, Macron with his head bowed, Brigitte making the sign of the cross, before moving on.
The capital city of Rome brimmed with mourners throughout the day, with lines winding around St. Peter's Square and the surrounding roads. Some braved the hours-long wait just to spend a few poignant moments inside the basilica.
Patricio Castriota, a visitor from Argentina, found the experience incredibly emotional. Being from the pope's homeland, he felt a particular bond with the deceased pontiff, appreciating his intentions for the Church and his efforts to clean up its corrupt aspects.
Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas, was renowned for his charming and even humorous demeanor. However, his 12-year tenure was marred by turmoil, as he wrestled with traditionalists who fiercely opposed his reforms.
Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, head of the Church on the French island of Corsica, admired Francis for humanizing the Church while retaining its sanctity. In an unusual gesture, a formal summary of Francis' papacy, penned in Latin, was placed in his casket before it was sealed – a testament to his "humble leadership" and "remarkable devotion to humanity."
A conclave to elect a new pontiff was unlikely to be convened before May 6, leaving the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church temporarily under the leadership of the world's Catholic cardinals. Meetings, known as general congregations, took place almost daily to discuss the Church's logistical matters.
The private ceremony to seal the casket of the late Pope Francis was led by eight Catholic cardinals, including an American prelate who faced criticism for his handling of sexual abuse cases. The Vatican prepared for 160 foreign delegations to attend the funeral on Saturday, including numerous world leaders and 10 reigning monarchs.
As Rome brace themselves for the funeral procession, the city anticipated heavy traffic closures along the route, which would pass by iconic landmarks like the Colosseum. The pope's tomb would rest in a niche in a side aisle of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, simply marked with the word "Franciscus."
- Despite the somber occasion, the buzz on social media was filled with discussions about the late Pope Francis, with many sharing their personal memories and reflections, contributing to the global conversation about pop-culture and its intersection with religion.
- As the funeral of the late Pope Francis approached, several celebrities took to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute, further highlighting the impact the pontiff had on entertainment, societal norms, and pop-culture.
