Pope Francis Lying in State in St. Peter's Basilica Until Friday

During the transfer, the coffin containing the remains of Pope Francis was accompanied by numerous cardinals, Swiss Guards, and the tolling of the death bell of St. Peter's Basilica, transported from the papal residence Santa Marta to the basilica.

Believers can pay their respects to Pope Francis at the coffin

Pope Francis himself had arranged before his death, among other things, that his body be placed in only one coffin - instead of the previous three nested ones. Additionally, the coffin is no longer displayed elevated on a catafalque. Along the route, numerous pilgrims and tourists gathered and applauded the 88-year-old deceased Francis - as is customary at the funerals of well-known personalities in Italy. Among the visitors was the Mexican Anna Montoya. "I just had to come here," said the 33-year-old. The Argentine pope was "like a relative" to her. "He stood for what the church should be," she added.

Over 100,000 people queued on Friday to enter St. Peter's Basilica. They had to wait up to four hours to reach the entrance of the basilica. In the Italian Parliament, a memorial ceremony in honor of Francis began on Wednesday afternoon. The presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, Lorenzo Fontana and Ignazio La Russa, representatives of all parties, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke to commemorate the deceased pope. In addition to the Prime Minister, several ministers were also present. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government declared the day of his burial, this Saturday, a National Day of Mourning as a sign of respect and recognition of Pope Francis's special connection to Hungary.

Burial of Pope Francis under highest security measures

The deceased pope will lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica for three days so that as many believers as possible can pay their respects. Next Friday at 8:00 PM, Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the rite of closing the coffin of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica. The mourning ceremony is planned for Saturday in St. Peter's Square. State guests from all over the world are expected, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and ÖVP Chancellor Christian Stocker. Among the expected monarchs in Rome are Felipe of Spain and Prince William from the United Kingdom. US President Donald Trump also plans to attend the funeral. According to "Corriere della Sera," Elon Musk, Trump's advisor, will also attend the ceremony. The security measures will be enormous. Rome is already in a state of emergency. The airspace over Rome will be closed for security reasons during the funeral.

The pope from Argentina will not find his final resting place in St. Peter's Basilica but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore near Rome's main train station. This was stipulated in his will. The burial will be attended by the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Vatican announced. Only his name in Latin will be on the tombstone: Franciscus. There will not even be a hint that he was pope. Work is still being done on the grave. Access is blocked with a wooden board. During his lifetime, Francis had ordered that papal burials be less pompous in the future than before. In St. Peter's Basilica, his body is now also - unlike the emeritus Pope Benedict XVI in January 2023 - not displayed on a catafalque, a high bier. Francis lies in a simple wooden coffin. The papal bishop's staff as a symbol of authority is also no longer placed beside him. He wears a red robe and a white bishop's mitre. A rosary is wrapped around his hands.

Pilgrim Surge Expected at Funeral Ceremony for Pope Francis

The Italian government has tasked Civil Protection Chief Fabio Ciciliano with organizing the funeral ceremony for Pope Francis next Saturday, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Large screens will be set up along the Via della Conciliazione, the main axis leading to St. Peter's Square, as well as on Piazza Pia and Piazza Risorgimento, where pilgrims can follow the funeral ceremony. Public transport is to be increased. Volunteers will assist pilgrims heading to St. Peter's Square.

The Meloni government has allocated five million euros for the grand funeral ceremony for Pope Francis. The Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, stated that it is not yet possible to estimate how many people will travel to Rome for the Pope's funeral ceremony. The funeral ceremony for John Paul II in April 2005, which was attended by over a million people, is to serve as a model. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri anticipates challenging weeks ahead. "The coming days with the funeral of Pope Francis and the conclave will be an important and demanding challenge for the city of Rome. We expect many people and logistical challenges, but I do not believe there will be problems. These are things we will manage," said the Social Democrat Gualtieri.

Cardinal Parolin Considered Favorite Before Conclave

Meanwhile, there has been intense speculation about the succession of Pope Francis. In London bookmakers have a clear favorite: the current number two of the Vatican, the Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The 70-year-old, currently the Cardinal Secretary of State, is consistently leading at various betting agencies. In second place is usually another Curia Cardinal: the former Archbishop of Manila from the Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle (67). Following them are Cardinals Peter Turkson (Ghana), Matteo Zuppi (Italy), Peter Erdö (Hungary), and Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy).

The decision on the new Pontiff will likely be made in a conclave in May. As it stands, 133 cardinals will decide on this matter, strictly secluded in the Sistine Chapel. More than 100 cardinals are excluded because they are over 80 years old. Since Francis has appointed many new cardinals from distant countries, this election is considered particularly open. Therefore, surprises are quite possible.

(APA/Red)

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