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Farewell to the Pope

Thousands of believers were waiting for hours to pay their last tribute to Pope Francis, whose body was exposed to St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the funeral scheduled for Saturday.

Long rows stretched around St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, before pilgrims were entering the basilica and walking toward the central altar, where an open coffin with the body of the Holy Father was exposed on the podium.

The commemoration began on Wednesday, and the Vatican originally planned to close the door at midnight. However, because of the huge furniture of the believer, access was enabled until 5:30 in the morning and then reopened at 7am.

« After three and a half hours of waiting in line, our legs hurt and we were exhausted. But we saw Francis and that moment emphasized us spiritually, » said Richard Lamb of New Jersey, who traveled to the Vatican with his wife.

Pope Francis died on Monday morning at the age of 88, in his residence at St. Martha’s House in the Vatican. His 12 years of pontificate was marked by the desire for reforms of divided churches and frequent conflicts with traditionalists who opposed his ideas.

« He was a wonderful pope. I will miss me terribly, as if I had lost a part of myself, » said Roman Alessandra Caccamo.

Until Thursday at 7 pm, over 90,000 people paid tribute, Vatican officials reported.

At the coffin, guarded by the Swiss Guard, it should not have lingered. Only priests and special guests, including Roma football players in dark suits, were allowed to sit on the benches along the coffin.

Preparations for the funeral

On Saturday, more than 130 delegations are expected in St. Peter’s Square, including 50 heads of state and 10 ruling monarchs, including US President Donald Trump. Millions around the world will follow the television broadcast of the funeral.

Roman authorities enhance security measures. According to Reuters, the snipers will be arranged on the roofs, drones will monitor the airspace, and a military system for neutralizing enemy spacecraft has been prepared.

The conclave for the selection of the new Pope cannot start before May 6. Cardinals gathered in Rome temporarily manage the church, and each sworn in silence about discussions that are being kept on the future pope.

This, however, does not prevent them from sharing their view of the future of the church with 1.4 billion believers with journalists.

« One chapter in the history of the Church has been closed, » Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller told La Repubblica. Müller, who was at the forefront of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and often parted with Francis, is known for his traditionalistic views.

He said that among the cardinals, « a unique recognition » to Francis’s work with migrants and the poor, but also that it is now the task of choosing the heir to St. Peter, not Francis himself, which could mean the turn of the Church.

The Vatican also announced that the poor and necessary are invited to welcome the coffin of Pope Francis in the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Velika, where Pope, deviated from tradition, asked him to be buried.

« The poor have a special place in the heart of God, » the Vatican said.

On Saturday, the center of Rome will be closed to traffic so that the funeral procession could pass smoothly towards the Basilica of St. Mary the Great, allowing the Romans to say goodbye to the last time.

Pope Francis will be buried in the niche in the lateral passage of the Basilica, and on his grave there will be a simple inscription « Franciscus ».