Over 90,000 people paid tribute on Wednesday and Thursday to the deceased Pope Franciswho left his last breath at the age of 88 on Good Monday (21.04.2025), as announced by the Vatican Press Hall.
The mourners lined up to see Pope Francis to be in a simple wooden coffin in the Basilica of St. Peter, who kept the Vatican open the doors all night due to the greatest of the expected arrival, closing the Basilica for just one and a half hours.
By 7pm on Thursday afternoon, nearly 100,000 people from many nations had already paid the last tribute. While the Italian Ministry of Justice made it known that Special permission was given to six prisonersso that they can go to the Basilica of Santa Maria Majiore, where Jorge Mario Bergolio will be buried, as was the regular name of Pope Francis.
Countless thousands still remain in the queue, waiting to express their love and respect for the deceased Pope. Among other things, they went to the Basilica of St. Peter for the ultimate in the “Pope of the Poor” and footballers of the Roma and Lazio teams.
At the same time, and Thousands of San Lorenzo fans of the “small” football team from Argentina, supported by Pope Francis, were also found in Santa Maria Maggiore.
Together with poor, gypsies, transsexual, formerly published women, they will leave a white rose on his grave. They are, in total, for 40 people who in recent years had met Francis.
The popular pilgrimage will continue until this afternoon at 7pm, and then the Pope’s coffin will close to make the latest preparations for his funeral on Saturday morning.
Official government delegations from about 130 countries arrive in Rome for funeral, including at least 50 heads of state or governments.
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will arrive tomorrow afternoon, when the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, the Philippines, Poland, Ukraine and other countries, as well as the Prime Minister, will arrive.
There will also be top members of the royal families from 10 countries, including Belgium, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Monaco.
On Saturday morning, the veterans will carry the casket out of the Basilica and place it in front of the altar on St. Peter’s Square, where Recviem will be held at 10am on Saturday.
The Vatican today informed accredited media that the poor will be one of the last to see the coffin of Pope Francis before being carried for burial, because “the poor have a privileged place in the heart of God” and “also in the heart and witch of St. Father”.
“A group of poor and needy will be present on the steps leading to the papal Basilica of St. Mary Magyan to pay their last respect to Pope Francis before the burial burial,” the statement said.
According to the Italian media, about 250,000 people from around the world are expected to be present at the funeral amid extremely strict security measures. Security will be secured by 11,000 members of the Army and the Police.
Immediately after the operation, the Pope’s coffin will be transported by motorway throughout the city, accompanied by a small number of cardinals, to the selected place of the final rest in the Basilica of St. Maria Meg.