Live 24 Hours in the Vatican! Up to 200,000 people are expected at the funeral

Thousands of believers

Thousands of people came on Wednesday at St. Peter’s Basilica to say goodbye to Pope Francis, whose body will be exposed there three days before his funeral on Saturday.

The rivers of people poured the main street that leads from Rome to the Vatican under the unusually warm spring sun, while the column moved slowly and people alternated to see the late Pope whose body was exposed to the basilica in the open coffin.

The body of the 88-year-old Pope, who passed away two days ago in his chambers at the Vatican residence of St. Martha after a stroke, was moved to the Basilica of St. Peter the gloomy procession that took place earlier on Wednesday.

Cardinals, bishops, candles and Swiss guards walked slowly through the spacious square in front of the Basilica, following the coffin as the choir sang psalms and prayers in Latin, and the bell gently echoed.

When the coffin came to St. Peter’s Square, several thousand people began to clap, which is a traditional sign of respect in Italy at such events. « He is like a family member. Someone very close to our hearts, who made the Church very affordable for everyone and inclusive for everyone, » said Rachel McKay, a pilgrim from the UK.

Francis, who only recently left the hospital, where he was treated for five weeks for mutual pneumonia, appeared in public on Sunday for the last time, when he congratulated the faithful on Easter and rejoiced people gathered in the square, walking around him in the papamobil.

A mixture of feelings

While the official ceremony of the transmission of the pope’s body in the basilica was near the end, Genevieve Jeanningros, the nun from the coastal city of Ostia, stood beside his coffin and cried. Jeanningros, known for her work with the LGBTQ community, hosted Francis several times in Ostia.

The crowds of people went through the Basilica boat to pay tribute to the late Pope. In the ceremony of exposure to his body in the Basilica of Sts. About 80 Cardinals participated.

American pilgrim Alex Lenrtz, who was among the first in line, said he was hit by a mixture of feelings when he saw Francis’s body.

« It’s just weird, and seeing the body and remembering everything he represented is very important, » he said.

The pope’s body will be exposed to the basilica by Friday night.

His funeral is scheduled on Saturday, and will come to the heads of states and governments from all over the world, including US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly clashed with the Pope for social issues such as immigration.

The leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, Brazil, the institution of the European Union and Francis’ gender Argentina also confirmed their arrival, among many others.

The conclave is expected to choose the new Pope before 6 May.

Cardinals are currently gathering in Rome to determine the date of its beginning after the discussions that are otherwise lasting.

When choosing a new pope, the cardinals will have to consider whether they want to complete the reform of the church promised to have more room for women in higher positions and to be more open to it to the change in the change.