A muffled Rome counts with the death of PopePosted at 05:23 British summer time
Laura Gozzi
Rome reports
Image source, Getty imagesThe Vatican seat had been vacant for two days when a group of nuns dressed in gray was held on St Peter square and started to sing.
Very slowly, then stronger, as if to encourage those who timidly joined, the nuns burst into Ave Maria.
From time to time, they mixed a few centimeters forward, depending on the queue for the state of Pope Francis. And during all this time, their faces turned to the Basilica of St Peter on their left, their bright white sails under their big sun hats.
It was an appropriate show for an extraordinary week in which Rome seemed to regain his reputation as “capital of the world” – and the place of St Peter as the center of the Catholic universe.
There is mourning, but also the recognition that the Pope, who lived up to 88, died quickly and peacefully.
However, this is not the moment of celebration either – it will have to wait after today’s funerals, when the conclave triggers the usual frenzy of excitement, intrigue and inevitable speculation.
