Tens of thousands of people crowded St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, during the morning and morning of Friday (25) on the last day to say goodbye to Pope Francis before his funeral on Saturday (26).
The basilica was open for most of the dawn, closing the doors for only three hours, between 2h30 and 5h30 (local time).
The body of the 88-year-old pontiff, who died on Monday (21) in his rooms at the house of guests Santa Marta, in the Vatican, after suffering a stroke, was taken to St. Peter’s Basilica in a solemn procession on Wednesday (23).
Since then, almost 130,000 people from around the world have said goodbye to the pontiff, the Holy See said.
On the morning of Friday, after the reopening of the Basilica, the queues extended to the middle of the main avenue from Rome to the Vatican.
People clustered slowly, some waiting for hours, to have a few minutes inside and pay their honors to Francisco.
Vatican authorities plan to end the funeral at 7 pm (local time), 14h in Brasilia, this Friday (25), before the formal sealing rite of the Pope’s coffin.
“What surprised me was his determination to serve the Church and love his people with all his energy, until the end,” said Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re-Ceremonial Leader of the Vatican Cardinal College and the Vatican’s retired employee-to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica in an interview published on Friday.
It is unlikely that a conclave to choose a new pontiff start before May 6.
Understand how the conclave that chooses the Pope of the Catholic Church works
Cardinals come together and manage Vatican
Meanwhile, the world’s Catholic cardinals have temporarily assumed control of the Roman Catholic Church, with 1.4 billion members.
The cardinals present in Rome gather almost daily, especially to discuss logistical issues, in what is called the “General Congregation.”
About 113 of the world’s 252 cardinals were present at the meeting of Thursday (24), reported the Holy See, with dozens of others scheduled to arrive in Rome for the meeting on Friday.
Francisco’s coffin will be sealed in a private ceremony, presided by eight Catholic cardinals, including an American prelate that has faced criticism for his conduct of cases of sexual abuse.
Among those present will also be the secretaries of Francis.
Rome prepares for the arrival of hundreds of high-level delegations who will participate in the funeral on Saturday (26), including US President Donald Trump, who will arrive in the Italian capital on Friday night.
This content was originally published on the last day of Goodbye to Pope Francis: thousands gather in the Vatican on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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