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An exceptional convergence of attendees, including global leaders, royals, refugees, and marginalized communities, is set to gather at St. Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the progressive pontiff who steered the Catholic Church for 12 impactful years.
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Monday at his residence in Casa Santa Marta following a stroke and heart failure, which followed his recovery from a five-week bout of double pneumonia.
During the three days that his body lay in state, tens of thousands of mourners visited St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects. His coffin was sealed in a private ceremony on Friday night.
The funeral mass is set to commence at 10 a.m. local time, presided over by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the current dean of the College of Cardinals.
With over 130 foreign delegations expected and around 200,000 pilgrims anticipated, extensive security measures have been implemented across the Vatican and Rome. This operation involves thousands of Italian police and military personnel, alongside the Vatican’s Swiss Guards, known as the world’s smallest army. In St. Peter’s Square, soldiers are equipped with anti-drone weaponry, while rooftop snipers and fighter jets remain on standby.
A delegation from Francis’s native Argentina, led by President Javier Milei, will occupy the front row during the mass. Italian dignitaries including President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will sit in the second row, while other heads of state and royals will take up the third row.
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania will be attending, alongside Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, marking a significant political presence at the event.
Other notable attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Prince William. Zelenskyy stated on Friday that if he is unable to attend, it would be due to “military meetings.”
The 87-page order of service, available in English, Italian, and Latin, was published on the Vatican’s website ahead of the funeral.
Pope Francis, named in homage to St. Francis of Assisi, an Italian saint noted for his commitment to aiding the impoverished, made significant changes to papal funeral rites last year, explicitly detailing his preferences, including attendees.
Representatives from Mediterranea Saving Humans, an Italian NGO dedicated to supporting refugees crossing the Mediterranean, and Refugees in Libya, an organization advocating for migrants detained in that North African country, have also been invited. Francis was known to have formed meaningful relationships with both organizations.
“He truly embodied the teachings of Jesus – his message resonated with everyone,” said Luca Casarini, founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans. “Some, like us, absorbed his teachings. He continually urged us to rescue individuals at sea and to offer them a safe haven. Conversely, many powerful figures neglected his guidance.”
Among the Refugees in Libya delegation is Mahamat Daoud, who endured torture in a detention camp before making a perilous journey to Italy in 2023. Daoud met Pope Francis at the Vatican in late 2023.
“We deeply mourn his passing because he was the only pope who genuinely stood by refugees and vulnerable individuals,” stated Daoud. “His support extended beyond our arrival in Italy; it was vital during our struggles in Libya.”
Daoud hopes that the funeral serves to unite various communities. “We will gather alongside those who oppose us, who push us back or force us into precarious situations,” he said. “Ultimately, we unite for this funeral; we hope this gathering promotes solidarity.”
Following the mass, the pope’s modest wooden coffin will proceed to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, located approximately 2.5 miles away in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood.
The procession will traverse central Rome, passing key historical landmarks, including the Colosseum. As per Francis’s wishes, upon reaching the basilica, he will receive a farewell from a group of 40 individuals, including prisoners and those experiencing homelessness.
“From the onset of his papacy, Francis focused on individuals often marginalized by society,” expressed Robert Mickens, a Rome-based columnist for Union of Catholic Asian News.
In a departure from tradition, Francis becomes the first pope in over a century not to be interred with grandeur in the crypts beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
Instead, his final resting place will be a simple niche previously used for candlestick holders.
As outlined in his testament, this burial site will remain undecorated, featuring only his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
The burial is expected to be an “intimate” occasion attended by family members, according to Vatican officials.
As the funeral unfolds, speculation surrounds potential successors for Francis. Cardinals have declared nine days of mourning starting Saturday, meaning a conclave to elect the next pope is not anticipated to commence before May 5.
Source
www.theguardian.com