VATICAN CITY, April 25 (Alliance News): The Vatican is making final arrangements for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
Tens of thousands of mourners have visited St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin, which will be closed Friday evening in a solemn ceremony led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
Heads of state, royalty, and global leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are arriving in Rome for Saturday’s funeral.
The Vatican and Italian authorities have enforced strict security measures around St Peter’s Square, including drone bans, sniper patrols, and fighter jet readiness.
Francis, the first Latin American pope and a Jesuit known for championing the marginalized, spent 12 years at the helm of the Catholic Church. Despite recent health struggles, he made a final public appearance during Easter celebrations, defying doctors’ advice.
The funeral will be attended by 130 foreign delegations and hundreds of thousands of people, with a no-fly zone in place. After the service, Pope Francis will be buried at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where his tomb will bear a simple inscription: Franciscus.
Attention will then turn to the election of his successor. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, expected to begin within the next few weeks. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin is currently seen as the frontrunner.
