A river in flood is what is paying its last respects to Pope Francis . There are families with strollers, kids with colorful sweatshirts, the elderly pushed in their wheelchairs, as Bergoglio was also moving until just a few days ago. It is his people, made up of believers and non-believers, who until Friday will stop in front of that coffin for a prayer.
Hours of line to stop for just a few seconds but there are many people who want to thank him for these twelve years of pontificate.
Over 100,000 people paid homage to the body of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica in the first 24 hours. During the night alone, from midnight to 5:30 am, 13,000 people paid their respects. This was reported by the Vatican media.
There is time to say goodbye until Friday at 8pm, when the coffin will be closed.
Meanwhile, Rome is preparing to welcome the dozens of delegations that will come for the funeral on Saturday.
LIVE OF THE DAY
- Condolences from Israel
"The State of Israel expresses its deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and the Catholic community around the world for the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace," wrote the official account of the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X.
- Viktor Orban also in Rome
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica as part of the Hungarian delegation led by President Tamas Sulyok, Orban's spokesman said.
- 100,000 people pay homage to the Pope
The faithful for the last homage to Pope Francis are increasing: they are 100,000.
- The President of the Palestinian National Authority also attended the funeral
Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa is expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral. This was learned from the Palestinian Embassy to the Holy See. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation.
- Biden at funeral, but not with Trump
Former US President Joe Biden may also attend Pope Francis' funeral, according to some media, although there is no official confirmation. Time reports that Biden, the second Catholic president and a practicing Catholic almost every weekend, will probably want to attend Bergoglio's funeral. If that happens, of course, he will not be part of the official US delegation, led by Donald Trump and First Lady Melania.
- Dap: permits for prisoners being evaluated
The Dap has given full availability, if the conditions are met, to grant special permits ad horas to prisoners to attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday in St. Peter's. Therefore, only after the positive opinion of the surveillance court will the penitentiary administration be able to evaluate the granting of the permit ad horas . According to what has been learned, in some penitentiary institutions the possibility for prisoners to follow the funeral live on TV in common rooms will be evaluated.
- For Francis a tomb in Ligurian marble
The tomb that will receive the body of Pope Francis next Saturday in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was made of marble from Liguria with only the inscription "FRANCISCUS" and the reproduction of his pectoral cross. The tomb was prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Cappella Sforza of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The tomb is located near the Altar of Saint Francis. This was communicated by the Press Office of the Holy See, providing information on the related project.
- The coffin welcomed by the needy
A group of poor people will welcome, on Saturday 26 April after the funeral, the arrival of the Pope's body in front of Santa Maria Maggiore, before the burial. This was reported by the Vatican press office.
- Migrants and refugees at the funeral
There will also be migrants and refugees at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. This was announced by Mediterranea, the NGO that has met with the Pontiff several times and that has received confirmation of its participation from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. The delegation will be made up of rescuers and migrant refugees who were tortured and escaped from Libyan concentration camps .
- Funeral procession at walking pace
The funeral procession that will accompany the Pope's body, after the funeral, from St. Peter's Basilica to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore will be "at walking pace to allow people to greet him." This was stated by the director of the Vatican press office Matteo Bruni, adding that there will be a live TV broadcast that will stop at the entrance to the Marian basilica because the burial will be a private event.
- 500 buses booked for the funeral
"There are 500 parking spaces for buses booked for Saturday." This was stated by the head of the Department of Civil Protection, Fabio Ciciliano, during a press briefing. "Just this morning at 9, 114 were registered." As for the numbers of the forces in the field, he said: "There are three thousand volunteers from Civil Protection, 55 health teams, 11 advanced medical stations, the ambulance service has been strengthened with 52 more vehicles, several thousand law enforcement officers in addition to the firefighters."
- More than 50 thousand faithful in 24 hours
From 11:00 yesterday morning until 11:00 this morning, more than 50,000 people gathered at St. Peter's Basilica to greet Pope Francis. This was announced by the Holy See.
- Casini: «Outraged by Netanyahu»
"What really makes me deeply indignant is Netanyahu's attitude: not so much for not attending the funeral, but for the fact that he didn't even consider sending a message of condolence to the Holy See. I see that even in the Jewish community there is growing unease about this choice and I shared the words of Rabbi Di Segni, as always clear and limpid." Senator Pier Ferdinando Casini said this while speaking on 'Mattino 5'. "The Pope has always defended the Palestinians and rightly the civilian population of Gaza, but he has never expressed feelings other than respect and friendship towards the State of Israel. I have never been an admirer of Netanyahu," observes the former President of the Chamber, "but his attitude confirms that he represents one of the obstacles to the solution of a dramatic problem."
- Almost 50 thousand faithful have paid homage to the Pope since 11am yesterday
From 11:00 yesterday to 8:30 this morning, 48,600 people paid homage to the body of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica. During the night, from 24:00 to 5:30, 13,000 people paid their respects. This was reported by the Vatican media.
- 2km queue
The line of faithful and religious people from Piazza Risorgimento to Porta Angelica to pay homage to the body of Pope Francis is already two kilometers long. The line, which begins in the square, makes several curves before arriving in Via di Porta Angelica where people then line up between the barriers.
(Online Union)
