Rome readies for farewell as pilgrims flood Vatican to honor Pope Francis

International

ROME is bracing for a moment of history as final preparations are made for the funeral of Pope Francis, the beloved Argentine pontiff whose legacy of compassion and reform has touched millions.

More than 128,000 mourners have already paid their respects to the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, who died on Monday at the age of 88. To accommodate the steady stream of visitors, St. Peter’s Basilica remained open late into the night for a second consecutive evening, briefly closing only between 2:30 a.m. and 5:40 a.m.

“Night is the most intimate moment, the Lord always manifests himself at night,” said 60-year-old Nicoletta Tomassetti in an Agence France-Presse report. She visited the coffin before dawn on Friday. “It was very emotional, in prayer, I asked the pope for some things and I know he will give them to me.”

Francis’ coffin, positioned before the altar and dressed in red chasuble and white mitre, was sealed Friday evening in a private ceremony attended by senior cardinals.

Security across Vatican City and central Rome has been significantly heightened. Authorities have imposed a no-fly zone, stationed snipers on rooftops, and placed fighter jets on standby. Additional checkpoints are being activated as international dignitaries begin arriving for Saturday’s funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Among the expected attendees are 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prince William of the United Kingdom, and Argentine President Javier Milei. At least 130 foreign delegations are confirmed.

Global tributes have continued to pour in for Pope Francis, whose 12-year papacy was defined by outreach to the marginalized, advocacy for the poor, and a reformist agenda. Despite his ailing health, he made a final public appearance during Easter, defying medical advice in a display of resilience and devotion.

Many mourners have described him as a compassionate and relatable leader who maintained a deep connection to ordinary and impoverished communities, considering him one of the most beloved popes in recent memory.

In his final public message, Francis condemned those who fuel hostility toward the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants — a reflection of the values that defined his papacy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences late Thursday. The delay drew speculation about tensions between Israel and the Vatican, particularly in light of Francis’s repeated criticisms of Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Saturday’s funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to Rome, coinciding with a national holiday weekend in Italy. Following the Mass, the late pope’s coffin will be transported slowly past Rome’s iconic landmarks — including the Roman Forum and the Colosseum — en route to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his chosen burial site.

Large video screens will line the procession route to allow mourners to follow the ceremony. A group of the city’s poor and homeless — people who were central to Francis’s mission — will welcome the coffin upon its arrival. His tomb will be marked with a single word: Franciscus.

Public access to the tomb will begin Sunday morning.

With the funeral marking the end of an era, attention now shifts to the selection of the next pope. Cardinals under the age of 80 — 135 in total — have already convened in Rome to discuss the Church’s next steps. While the date of the conclave has yet to be announced, Church law mandates it must begin between 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death.

Speculation about Francis’s successor is intensifying. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as Vatican Secretary of State, currently leads in betting odds. He is followed by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, and Archbishop of Bologna Matteo Zuppi.(MyTVCebu)