More than 100,000 mourners attended St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday to bid their last farewell to Pope Francis, whose open casket was in state before his funeral on Saturday. The Vatican ended the public viewing at 7 p.m. local time, after a near-continuous TV broadcast since Wednesday. A private ceremony was conducted to close his casket immediately after the public farewell came to an end.
The 88-year-old pope died on Monday in his apartment at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse after a stroke that occurred as he was recuperating from pneumonia. His death brought to a close a revolutionary and sometimes stormy 12-year reign.
Since Wednesday, about 250,000 individuals from all over the globe have attended the Vatican to bid farewell. On Friday, crowds of people stretched through St. Peter’s Square and surrounding streets, as people queued for hours to pay respects for a brief moment in the basilica.
Among the last to visit were French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Standing respectfully at the casket’s side, Macron bowed his head as his wife made the sign of the cross.
Travelers spoke of a profound emotional connection to Pope Francis. “It’s a strong sensation,” stated Patricio Castriota of Argentina, the Pope’s native country. “It’s a sad goodbye, but I thank God that I was able to see him. He was the first South American pope and attempted to purify the Church of its imperfections.”
Francis, known for his warmth and humility, was admired for humanising the Church while maintaining its sacred essence. “He brought humanity to the Church without stripping it of its holiness,” said Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo of Corsica.
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of reform and compassion, having challenged long-standing traditions and reshaped the global Catholic narrative.
