About 50,000 people paid tribute to the pope before the funeral, his doctor: ‘He refused intubation!’
The church was supposed to be closed at midnight, but given the number of people, it remained open until 5:30 in the morning and then reopened at 7am. The body of 88-year-old Pope Francis, who died on Monday at St. Martha’s Vatican House after a stroke, was brought to the Church of St. Peter on Wednesday.
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Pope Francis’ body was moved Wednesday morning at St. Peter’s Basilica so that Catholic believers could give the last tribute before the funeral
Francis, a revolutionary reformer of the Church, often had a turbulent 12-year rule during which he clashed with traditionalists and advocated poor and marginalized.
On Saturday, more than 170 delegations, including heads of state and government, are expected at St. Peter’s Square at a funeral ceremony, and will be watched by the ceremony on small screens around the world.
« One chapter in the history of the Church is closed, » Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller told the Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Thursday.
The German Cardinal, known as a conservative and one of 133 « church princes » who will hold a conclave for the selection of 267 Pontifex and Francis’ heir next month, said there was a « unanimous appreciation » of the pope’s work on migrants and the poor.
Pope’s doctor: refused intubation
The Catholic leader passed away on Monday, and on weeks before his death, he decided to give up the respirator, his personal doctor told the Italian newspaper, it was announced on Thursday.
« During his last hospital stay, he explicitly sought that no intubation be made under any circumstances, » Sergio Alfieri, the main Pope’s doctor during his 38-day stay at Gemelli Hospital in Rome earlier this year.
Francis has already sent a similar request during the previous hospitalization 2021, seeking to avoid « futile treatment in the event of urgency ».
In a newspaper interview, the doctor also described the last Pope’s hours on Monday. « At 5 am, the Holy Father woke up to drink a glass of water. He turned to his side, and the nurse noticed that something was wrong, » the doctor said.
The Pope then « struggled to answer. The Vatican doctor was called. They called me around 5:30 in the morning and I arrived in 15 minutes. I found him with oxygen and an infusion. »
Alfieri said he obeyed the Pope’s lungs. « They were clear, without cracking sounds. His eyes were open, but he did not answer questions or tingling pain. He was already in a coma. His pulse slowed down and his breathing became all shallower. »
His re -transfer to the hospital was briefly considered. « But he would die in transportation. »
His death was officially proclaimed at 7:35 pm.
The Pope’s life ended « without pain and at home, » as he probably wanted, Alfieri said.
