Rome and the Catholics of the whole world are preparing to say goodbye to their religious leader. THE Pope Francis will ‘return’ to his hospitable soil Vaticanon Saturday, April 26 at a ceremony that will be attended by billions of people.
Pope Francis was rightly dismissed “Pope of the People” and “Pope of the Poor” and in the three -day pilgrimage they came and paid tribute hundreds of thousands of faithful who have flooded the Vatican for the funeral of the 88 -year -old Pontiff.
In Rome, Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and priests from all over the world will celebrate the funeral service for Pope Francis. The ceremony will begin at 10am in the morning of 50 leaders, including Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and 10 kings, as well as delegations from 130 countries. Security measures are strictly, with free shooters on the roofs and an air blocking of the area around Saint Peter.
The funeral sequence will begin in St. Peter’s Square, marking the start of Novelan ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and functions for resting the soul of the late Argentine Pontiff.
The ceremony will be performed by the Dean of the Cardinal College of 91 -year -old Italian Giovanni Batista. The procession will begin with a priest who will hold a cross, followed by the coffin and ordained clergy.
Patriarchs and Cardinals are called upon to wear their moutles, while Archbishops and bishops are invited to wear the amiatheir sacred amphibian, belt and red stone.
Members of the Swiss guard will kneel for the sanctification of the dead and the blessing of bread and wine that “become the body and blood of Christ».
There will be a reason that will refer to the Pope’s life. The Divine Liturgy will be completed with the final praise and farewell.
After the Divine Liturgy, the corpse is carried through ‘death door“, To the left of the altar to Saint Peter, while mourning a 10 ton bell.
Church psalms include verses from Psalm 117 ‘Open me the gate of justice’ and psalm 41 “In the brilliant companion of the Saints, I will go to the house of God”.
Private ceremony in closed doors, at the desire of the Pontiff
Today (25.04.2025), at 8 pm Greece, as it was scheduled, the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica were closed and completed in this way the public promotion of Pope Francis’ open carrier.
According to planning, The Ferrett Sealing It was completed at 9pm Greece and was a private ceremony held in camera, as was the wish of 88 -year -old Pontiff.
According to the revised data, a total of approximately 250,000 thousand faithful attended the popular pilgrimageunder draconian security measures. It also became known by the Holy See that the radio and the news of the Vatican will broadcast “live” Pope Francis’ funeral in 15 languages.
Draconian security measures
With patrols on the river Tiber, drones, police officers in every corner and snipers, Rome is reminiscent of a fortified city. “I think the security machine is ready,” said Rome Prefect, Lamperto Giannini.
They will be deployed in the “Eternal City”, 8,000 police officers, and all roads will be overseen by the Electronic Control Center.
“The attention will be high on all parts of the route and as is natural to the most open points, there will be a more careful look,” he said. Gianpolohead of the Rome police.
International appearances
Over 130 countries, including 50 leaders of states and 10 kings, will be in the Vatican for the funeral. Present, among other things, the Donald Trumpthe Emmanuel Macronthe Star star. The US president did not even rule out the possibility of having individual talks with some of the leaders.
«It will be very interesting, we will meet with many of the foreign leaders who want to meet“, Trump said.
The leaders will be placed to the right of the landscaped space outside the Basilica of St. Peter, and on the left are the Cardinals.
According to the Holy See Regulation, members of the delegations will sit in a nominal order under the French alphabet, but first the leadership of Argentina and Italy.
Therefore Donald Trumpwho arrives at midnight in Rome on his first international trip since taking over his second presidency, he seems to be sitting with the Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Emmanuel Macronbut also next to the Joe Biden.
Journalists’ interest in a place at the funeral is also huge as they have already been issued Over 2,700 credentials.
The funeral procession will travel 6 kilometers
After the end of the funeral sequence, the following will be followed by funeralto travel 6 kilometers in slow gait In order for people to bid farewell to their beloved Pope, passing through the iconic buildings of Rome.
“It will cross the entire area of the historic center and reach Santa Maria Maggore Square passing through Colosseum and Piazza Venice,” he said. Gianpolohead of the police of the Italian capital.
“One of the most moving moments, we imagine it will be when the coffin will pass through the monument of the homeland and then in front of Fori Imperiali Avenue,” he said. Leonardo jellyTG1 journalist.
To ‘Santa Maria Maggiore“, The coffin will be welcomed with white rose poor, immigrants, trans and six prisoners, who received a special permit.
Pope Francis’ tomb will be simple as he had asked for it. By marble luggage- region of northern Italy- from land of his grandparents’ origin.
Above the memory there is a simple inscription “Francis”but also a copy of the cross he wore and accompanied him his 12 years2013 – 2025). The tomb will be accessible as early as Sunday, April 27.
The gap left by Pope Francis is great, as much as his legacy. However, it should be emphasized that the Holy See prevails “quiet»For their discussions about the successor of Pontiff.
After passing nine days mourning will recover in the Vatican the Conclave For the election of a new Pope, however, the Cardinals have already begun their meetings.