The Vatican has allowed the general public to enter St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their last respects to Pope Francis. The central aisle was filled with thousands of people while Swiss Guards stood at attention.
Earlier today, the bells of St. Peter’s rang as Pope Francis’s body was moved from the Vatican hotel where he resided to the basilica. The procession included solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards, passing through the same piazza where the pope had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before his passing.
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The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 am (6 pm AEST) in St. Peter’s Square. It will be attended by leaders such as US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave to elect Francis’ successor, make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff’s death.
History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.
He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square.
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He had some reservations about looping through the square packed with 50,000 faithful, Vatican News reported on Tuesday, but overcame them — and was thankful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.
“The death of a pope is not a small thing, because we’ve lost our leader,” said Julio Henrique from Brazil.
“But still, in a few days, we will have a new leader. So … the thing of hope remains. Who will assume Peter’s throne?”
