When the body of Pope Francis arrives outside the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday April 26, he will be welcomed by the poor and the needy of Rome who will have the last chance to pay tribute before his burial.
“The poor have a special place in the heart of the Holy Father, which chose the name of Francis to never forget them,” said a statement of April 24 of the Vatican announcing the decision.
Francis, who died on April 21 at 88, should become the first Roman pontiff buried in front of the Vatican in more than a century. Instead, he chose a small plot in Santa Maria Maggiore – about 3 miles from the Saint -Pierre Basilica – for his last rest.
The affinity of the late the pope for the basilica, and in particular his icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani”, was a constant draw for him long before becoming a pope. During its 12 -year papacy, Francis went there to pray more than 120 times, before and after each international trip and after each hospitalization.
Around 3 p.m. today, thousands of people were waiting online around the Vatican to have a chance to see Francis’ body, which is in a state of the Saint-Pierre basilica.
The Vatican declared earlier during the day than 11 a.m. local time on April 23 at 1 p.m. local time on April 24, more than 61,000 people visited the basilica. The atmosphere in Rome is both festive – with people waving the flags of their country of origin while they wait to pay tribute to the late Pope – and dark, with some people who cry and pray to rosaries.
The simple wooden coffin of the pontiff will be sealed Friday evening (April 25) before his funeral on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the members of the college of cardinals continue to arrive in Rome to participate in what are called “general congregations”, where they discuss the needs of the Church before the election of a new Pope.
Currently, 113 cardinals are in Rome and attended today’s meeting. The Vatican said that 34 of them spoke during discussions on “the Church and the world”.
General congregations should resume Friday morning (April 25).
