On April 24, 2025, mourners and visitors lined up along the road leading to St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. By that date, approximately 61,000 people had already paid their respects, with many more expected as the final preparations for his funeral began.
The Vatican is gearing up for the funeral on April 26, with 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, arriving in Rome later Friday. Authorities have ramped up security in the area, with drones banned, snipers positioned on rooftops, and fighter jets on standby. Additional checkpoints will be established as the day progresses.
On the morning of April 25, long lines of mourners filled Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to the Vatican, as the final day of Pope Francis’s lying-in-state took place. Over 128,000 individuals had already visited the Basilica to pay their respects. The pope’s coffin will be closed at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) in a ceremony attended by senior cardinals.
For the second consecutive night, the Vatican extended visiting hours to accommodate the crowds, keeping the Basilica open overnight and only closing between 2:30 am and 5:40 am. “Night is the most intimate moment; the Lord always manifests himself at night,” said 60-year-old Nicoletta Tomassetti, who visited the Basilica early Friday. She expressed how emotional her visit was, praying for personal requests, confident that the late pope would hear them.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, passed away on April 21 at 88 years old, just weeks after recovering from severe pneumonia. His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes worldwide, as he was known for championing the marginalized and vulnerable. Many remember him as a merciful leader who closely identified with the poor.
The funeral will be attended by numerous international figures, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Britain’s Prince William. A no-fly zone will be imposed over Rome for the occasion, and over 130 foreign delegations are expected to attend.
After the funeral, Pope Francis’s body will be taken in a hearse to his final resting place at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, passing iconic sites like the Colosseum along the way. The pope’s tomb will be simple, marked only with the word “Franciscus.”
Cardinals from around the world have gathered in Rome to prepare for the conclave, where they will elect the next pope. No date has been set yet for the conclave, but it must begin between 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death. Only cardinals under 80 years of age are eligible to vote.
Among the potential successors, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was Pope Francis’s deputy, is considered the favorite by British bookmakers. Other prominent names include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana.
The selection of the new pope will take place shortly after the funeral, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church.
