The Vatican intensified the security measures for the Pope Francis Funeral who died at the age of 88 after 12 years of pontificate.
The special scheme was set up to accommodate the growing crowd of the faithful and the arrival of heads of state for the ceremony.
The security system will act on three distinct forces – Swiss guard, carbinieri and the GENDARERARY BODY . Each has specific and complementary functions to ensure tranquility during honors and the funeral. Then understand the performance of each authority.
Swiss guard
Swiss guard, recognizable for its colorful and characteristic uniforms, is responsible for the Pope’s direct protection and the most sensitive places of the Vatican. The elite force, with over 500 years of history, will also be in charge of protecting the conclave that will elect the next pontiff.
To integrate the Swiss Guard, candidates must meet strict requirements, including a minimum height of 1.74m, being a practicing Catholic and having minimum high school or higher education.
Carabinieri
Carabinieri is the Italian Military Police, who has been active in the Vatican since the Latron Treaty of 1929. Its presence aims to reinforce safety and combat possible threats, such as attacks or violent demonstrations.
Although serious incidents are rare, the force remains on a constant warning.
GENDARERARY BODY
The body of Gendarmara, its own police force from the Vatican is responsible for controlling the boundaries between Rome and the papal state, as well as doing investigative work.
Its performance is crucial for internal security and monitoring of Vatican access points.
With the arrival of world leaders for the funeral, scheduled for Saturday, coordination between these three security forces will be intensified. The goal is to ensure that the tributes to Pope Francis They go into a safe and controlled environment, respecting the solemnity of the moment.
Preparations for the funeral
St. Peter’s Square is crowded on this last day of the funeral, with queues that extend for miles.
The increase in the flow of people is partly due to the national holiday in Italy, which celebrates the release of the fascist regime, allowing many Italians from other regions of the country to travel to Rome to pay their latest honors.
Vatican authorities closed parts of St. Peter’s Square to facilitate the access of the authorities on Funeral Day.
In addition, they created a long route between the square and the Castle of Sant’Angelo where the funeral procession will pass towards the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a place chosen by Francisco for his final rest.
The last day of the wake includes the coffin ceremony containing Pope Francis’ body. Tomorrow, after the funeral mass, there will be a procession of the Basilica of St. Peter to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the pontiff will be buried.
According to the will, the basilica was chosen by Papa Franscico himself as the place of his burial.
Desire makes Francisco the First Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican – Before him, Leo XIII was buried in 1903 in the Basilica of St. John of Latron, also in Rome.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore already has seven buried pontiffs, the last being Pope Clement VIII, who died in 1605.
This content was originally published in Understand the Vatican’s security scheme to Pope Francis’ funeral on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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