The Vatican culminates in the preparation for the funeral of the Pope, in Rome expected hundreds of thousands of people
More than 125,000 people have said goodbye to the Pope.
Vatican. In the Vatican on Friday culminates preparations for Saturday’s funeral Pope Francis. The open coffin with his body remains will remain in the Basilica of Sts. Petra exhibited until 19.00 – until the ceremony of its sealing at 20.00, AFP reported.
The Italian and Vatican authorities introduced strict security measures in the area around the basilica: they monitor the area with the help of drones, there are snipers on the roofs of the buildings, the fighters are on the alert and there will be a non -fly -free zone above Rome.
Police said further check -ups would be activated on Friday evening.
They expect hundreds of thousands of people
Italy Civil protection agency estimates that during the upcoming weekend, which would probably still be busy for Friday’s public holiday, « several hundred thousand » people will meet in Rome.
In two days the past from exposing the body in the Basilica of Sts. More than 128,000 people came to say goodbye to Peter with the deceased Pope, the Vatican press service said.
Why don’t we have a chance for the Pope? Francis had no close relationship with any of the bishops Read
At least 130 foreign delegations, including 50 heads of states and ten monarchs, are also expected to participate in the funeral.
After the funeral mass in front of the Basilica of Sts. Petra will transfer the coffin to his favorite temple in Rome – the Basilica of the Virgin Mary (Santa Maria Maggiore), where the Pope burns into a simple grave – in accordance with his wishes. People will be able to visit the grave from Sunday morning.
The Vatican announced that the funeral accompaniment with a coffin would be on the stairs of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to be welcomed by the poor, the homeless, prisoners from Rebibbia prison, transrodic persons and migrants to whom Francis had a particularly close relationship during his pontificate.
« The poor have a privileged place in the heart of God, » and therefore « also in the heart and the Holy Father, who chose the name Francis to never forget them, » he explains in the statement of the Holy See.
Tombstone as a symbol
The tombstone above the grave of Pope Francis is from Liguria in the north of Italy, where his ancestors came from, writes Vatican News.
The Basilica Press Service Santa Maria Maggiore said that the grave will be the inscription « Franciscus » and the reproduction of the Pope’s pectoral – the breast cross.
Based on the Pope’s spiritual will, his grave in the niche in the side nave between the Pauline Chapel, where the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani, worshiped by the Romans and their deceased Bishop František, and the chapel of the Sforz family, near the altar of St. Františka.
The family of the deceased Pope has its roots in the Ligurian town of Cogorno in the north of Italy and, according to Lithuanian Cardinal Rolandas MacrickaS, who is the Archdan-Coadjutor of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, František’s wish was buried in the tomb of « Ligurian stone, the land of his grandparents. »
The Liguria came from the Pope’s ancient father Vincenzo Sivori, who in the 19th century left Italy to Argentina, where he founded a family. His granddaughter Regina Maria Sivori, who was the mother of Jorge’s Maria Bergogli – later Pope Francis, also grew up.
Pope Francis He did not publicly talk about his ties with Liguria. In Cogorne, however, still lives cousin Angela Sivori, who said that the Pope’s request for a tombstone from the region is a wonderful gift for the family, « the last surprise. » The Pope met his family in May 2017 in Genoa.
The choice of a new church head
After the funeral, attention focuses on the choice of František’s successor. Cardinals from all over the world are gradually coming to Rome and the Vatican, where they now meet every day to agree on the next steps. Their next meeting will start on Friday at 09:00.
The Conclave date has not yet been announced. However, the choice of the new Pope must be started at least 15 days and not later than 20 days after the death of his predecessor. Only cardinals under 80 years of age can vote in the Conclave.
According to British bookmakers William Hill, the favorite is Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was the second most important cardinal after František.
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, followed by Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson and Archbishop Bologna Matteo Zuppi, followed by the favorites (Papabile).
Francis – the first Pope of Latin America – died of Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 – less than a month for 38 days of hospitalization for severe two -sided pneumonia.
