VATICAN CITY: Tens of thousands of people flocked to the Vatican on Friday for a last glimpse of Pope Francis's open coffin, as world leaders and other guests began arriving for his funeral. Around 150,000 people had paid their last respects to the Argentine pontiff by midday Friday, seven hours before the end of three days of lying in state at St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said.
More than 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs are expected to attend Saturday's funeral, alongside around 200,000 mourners. Vast crowds of people packed Via della Conciliazione, the wide avenue leading to the Vatican, pilgrims and tourists mingling with Italians enjoying the April 25 public holiday. Italian and Vatican authorities have placed the area around St Peter's under tight security with drones blocked, snipers on roofs and fighter jets on standby. Further checkpoints will be activated on Friday night, police said.
For a second night in a row, the Vatican kept St Peter's open past the scheduled hours to accommodate the queues, only closing the doors between 2:30 am and 5:40 am on Friday. The Catholic Church's first Latin American pope died on Monday aged 88, less than a month after spending weeks in hospital fighting severe pneumonia.
The Argentine pontiff, who had long suffered failing health, defied doctors' orders by making a public appearance on Easter on Sunday, the most important moment in the Catholic calendar. It was his last public appearance. Condolences have flooded in from around the world for the Jesuit, an energetic reformer who championed those on the fringes of society in his 12 years as head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. He used his last speech to rail against those who stir up "contempt... towards the vulnerable, the marginalised and migrants". "It's impressive to see all these people," French cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo said of the queueing crowds, describing Francis as "a man of the people. "It's a beautiful response, a beautiful embrace of his ministry, of his pontificate," he added.
The Vatican has said 130 foreign delegations are confirmed for the funeral, including Argentina's President Javier Milei and Britain's Prince William, many of whom began arriving early on Friday morning. US President Donald Trump headed to Rome on Friday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the unexpected first foreign trip of his second term.
On Thursday the Vatican banned people from taking photos inside the basilica, a move that eased the queue. It came after some mourners took selfies with the coffin. After the funeral, Francis's coffin will be driven at a walking pace for burial at his favourite church, Rome's papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. — AFP
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