Thousands of people say goodbye to Pope Francis / Day
Pope Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88 after a brain stroke. Francis’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
First of all, the Pope could be able to say goodbye to the Pope’s chapel of St. Martha, but today began a public farewell to St. Peter’s Basilica, which will last three days.
This morning, the queue of believers and tourists was formed at St. Peter’s Square, waiting for people to open the basilic door at 11 am (12 pm Latvian time). The authorities estimate that about 20,000 people were waiting in the queue in the morning.
Francis, who led the Catholic Church for the last 12 years, expressed his desire to be buried outside the walls of the Vatican in Basilica, Mary’s Madzori of Rome.
Although the late wish has been the wish for his funeral ceremony to be modest, it is expected to attend many heads of national and government from around the world. Pope’s funeral is also expected to have royal heads.
Italy is preparing for an ambitious security operation on funeral day. Italian Minister of the Interior Mateo Pianedosi revealed that 150 to 170 foreign delegations are welcome. Basilica and outside barriers and increased security tests are already installed.
After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, during which Rome comes to Rome, which will participate in the next Pope’s election Conclave. The election of the Pope must begin within 15-20 days after the death of the previous Pope.
The cardinals will be voted by secret and after each voting session, the newsletters will be burned in a special oven. Black smoke will indicate that the Pope is not elected, but white smoke – that the radically chosen the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
