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

After the laying in state of Pope Francis's body in St. Peter's Basilica, believers can pay their respects at the open casket. Special opening hours and rules currently apply: On Thursday, St. Peter's Basilica is open from 7:00 AM to midnight. After a waiting period, it is possible to approach the casket in front of the main altar. Tens of thousands lined up on Wednesday.

Two days after the death of Francis, the body of the church leader was previously carried in a solemn ceremony, attended by thousands, from the papal residence Santa Marta to the papal altar in the basilica under the canopy of Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. On Saturday, the deceased Pontifex Maximus will be buried.

Believers Can Pay Respects to Pope Francis at the Casket

As the death knell rang, dozens of cardinals and Swiss Guards accompanied the casket. The transfer and mourning ceremonies are taking place according to a new, simpler rite compared to previous popes. Francis himself had arranged before his death, among other things, that his body be placed in only one casket - instead of the previous three nested ones. Additionally, the casket is no longer displayed elevated on a catafalque.

On Friday evening, the casket will be closed and prepared for the mourning ceremony on Saturday morning. Until 7:00 PM, St. Peter's Basilica will still be open. Many state guests from around the world as well as hundreds of thousands of believers are expected for the burial. After the mass in St. Peter's Square, the casket will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. There, Francis will then be buried.

Preparations for this major event are underway in Rome. Just a few days earlier, the Italian capital is in a state of emergency. Italy's civil protection expects hundreds of thousands at the mourning ceremony. Public transport is to be strengthened. Volunteers are to assist believers who want to go to St. Peter's Square. The highest security precautions are also in place.

Along the route of the casket, numerous pilgrims and tourists gathered on Wednesday and applauded the 88-year-old deceased Francis - as is customary at the funerals of well-known personalities in Italy. Among the visitors was 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.

Burial of Pope Francis Under Highest Security Precautions

Over 100,000 people lined up on Wednesday to enter St. Peter's Basilica. They had to wait up to four hours to reach the entrance of the basilica. The Vatican is therefore considering keeping St. Peter's Basilica open even overnight.

A memorial ceremony in honor of Francis took place in the Italian Parliament 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.

After a ceremony in St. Peter's Square, Francis will be buried on Saturday at his own request as the first Pope in more than a century not in St. Peter's Basilica, but in the papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the city center of Rome, a central place of Catholic Marian devotion. His final resting place is to be an earth grave with the simple Latin inscription "Franciscus." Numerous heads of state have announced their visit for the burial, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and ÖVP Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.

Pilgrim Rush Expected at Mourning Ceremony for Pope Francis

The Italian government tasked Civil Protection Chief Fabio Ciciliano with organizing the mourning ceremony for Pope Francis next Saturday, to which hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected. Along the Via della Conciliazione, the large axis leading to St. Peter's Square, on Piazza Pia and Piazza Risorgimento, large screens will be set up for pilgrims to follow the mourning ceremony. Public transport is to be strengthened. Volunteers are to assist pilgrims who want to go to St. Peter's Square.

The Meloni government pledged five million euros for the grand mourning 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 mourning ceremony for the Pope. The mourning 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 expects challenging weeks. "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 will be things we will manage," said the Social Democrat Gualtieri.

Cardinal Parolin Considered Favorite Before Conclave

Meanwhile, there has already been much speculation about Francis's successor. In London bookmakers, there is a clear favorite: the previous number two of the Vatican, the Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The 70-year-old, previously Cardinal Secretary of State, is consistently ahead in the various betting offices.

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 - strictly shielded in the Sistine Chapel. More than 100 cardinals are excluded because they are over 80 years old. Because Francis has appointed many new cardinals from far-flung countries, this election is considered particularly open. So there may well be surprises.

(APA/Red)

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