On last day of Pope Francis lying in state, huge crowds flock to Vatican

Tens of thousands of Mourters have waited hours to say goodbye to Pope Francis, who died with a blow at the age of 88.

The Vatican said Friday morning that more than 128,000 people had already presented their respect for Francis, the archives fit their open coffin, which was placed in front of the main altar of the Basilica of San Pedro. Some prayed, and others held smartphones high for a photo of the late Pontiff, which is presented with red robes with the pointed miter of a bishop and a rosary intertwined in his hands.

The basilica remained open until around 3 in the morning, the local time on Friday and closed only a few hours before reopening the mourners who began arriving before dawn. The three days of public visualization are scheduled to finish at 6 pm on Friday, an hour earlier than announced, after which Francis Simple Wooden Affin will be sealed.

Heads of state and royalty will begin to converge in Rome on Friday to Saturday funeral In the Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano.

President Trump and the Argentine President, Javier Milei, are among the leaders who arrived on Friday, the last day of the Argentine Pope is in the Basilica before his coffin seals at night in preparation for the funeral.

The Vatican said that 130 delegations are confirmed, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.

The work of the conclave for Choose a new Pope He won until at least on May 5, after nine days of public mourning.

The cardinals have also arrived in Rome, with 113 meetings on Thursday morning to discuss the Church’s businesses. They will meet again on Friday again before taking a break for the weekend.

“We are preparing ourselves, but we have not yet entered the most intense phase. We are in the organizational phase,” said Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni.

According to Francis’s hug from the marginalized, the Vatican said that a group of poor and needy people will meet the Pope’s coffin to pay tribute when he arrives in St. Mary Basilica for the burial on Saturday.

The grave is preparing behind a wooden barrier inside the basilica that he chose to be close to an icon of the Virgin that venerated often prayed before.

The photos released by the Vatican on Friday show the marble tombstone floor against the pavement, with the simple Latin engraving that he requested in his last testament: “Franciscus”

Trump is expected to travel with the first lady Melania Trump, arrive after Francis’s coffin has been sealed.

Former President Joe Biden, who coined a close employment and personnel with Francis who dates back to his visit to the United States in 2015, Intends to attend funeralAgree for several people with knowledge or their plans.

Among the foreign dignitaries confirmed for the papal funeral are the Ukrainian president, Volodyymyr Zelenskyy and the first lady Olena Zelenska, the French president Emmanuel Macron, the main British Starmer, Prince William, Spain Felipe VI and Queen Letizia Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Israel will send its Vatican ambassador, Yaron Sideman, a lower level diplomat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not sacrifice condolences on behalf of the Jewish state until Friday.

The relations between Israel and the Pope had been beaten since the war broke out in Gaza.

The Pontiff denounced Hamas’ attack against Israel, but also often criticized the actions of Israel duration of its military operations in Gaza.