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Vatican City — A remarkable number of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who was lying in state in a modest wooden coffin at St. Peter’s Basilica. Due to an unexpectedly large turnout, the Vatican kept its doors open throughout the night, closing the basilica only briefly on Thursday morning for cleaning.
The basilica was shut from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m., yet thousands of individuals queued early to honor the late pope. According to reports by the French news agency AFP, approximately 48,600 mourners paid their last respects from 11 a.m. on Wednesday until 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. By later that day, the Vatican revised the number to around 61,000 attendees.
As mourners filed into the basilica, the atmosphere was permeated by a profound silence. People from various corners of the world took part in a slow procession along the grand aisle, honoring Francis, who passed away on Monday following complications from a stroke and heart failure. The lengthy wait alongside fellow pilgrims, winding from via della Conciliazione, through St. Peter’s Square, and into the basilica, allowed many to reflect on the pope’s legacy of humility and inclusiveness.
Emiliano Fernandez, a devout Catholic from Mexico, stood in line around midnight, unfazed by the time it took to enter the basilica. “I don’t mind how long I wait here. It’s a chance to express my admiration for Francisco during his life,” he remarked, citing his respect for the pope, which deepened during Francis’ visit to Mexico in 2016. “It’s worth the wait,” he added.
Accompanying Fernandez in the queue were various groups, including a class of 14-year-olds from Milan who had come for the postponed canonization of the first millennial saint, a woman seeking divine assistance for an upcoming surgery, and an Italian family wishing to show their children the pope’s body.
“We brought them since we didn’t have a chance to do it when he was alive; this is our final farewell,” said Rosa Scorpati, who was leaving the basilica with her three young children. “They behaved well, but I don’t think they fully grasped what happened since they haven’t experienced death yet.” The Scorpati family had been in Rome for an Easter vacation when they learned of Francis’ passing on Easter Monday.
Out of their devotion to the pope and his message of acceptance, the mourners proceeded from St. Peter’s Square through the basilica’s Holy Door, where those seeking penance could receive an indulgence during the ongoing Jubilee Holy Year, culminating at the pope’s casket.
Following three days of public homage, a funeral Mass is scheduled to take place Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, attended by various heads of state. Francis will then be interred in a niche within the Basilica of St. Mary Major, close to his cherished Madonna icon.
Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88, had a notable 12-year papacy marked by a strong focus on poverty and inclusivity, though he faced criticism from conservative factions who felt distanced by his progressive perspectives. On Wednesday, clergy members, including priests, bishops, and cardinals, accompanied the pope’s body from a private viewing in Vatican City to the square. This formal procession contrasted with the heartfelt interactions occurring during the public vigil.
As Francis lay in an open casket, facing mourners with four Swiss Guards standing vigil, many participants took the opportunity to capture the moment with their smartphones. The scene included a nun helping an elderly woman who left in tears, lamenting, “My pope is gone.” While sadness was present, the overall sentiment resonated with gratitude for a leader who profoundly encouraged openness and understanding.
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