Last hours to say goodbye to Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica. The temple is expected to close at 7:00 p.m. to proceed with the closure of the coffin. Cardinal Camerlengo, Kevin Farrell, will preside over the sealing of the Pope's coffin at 8:00 p.m. During the ceremony, a white silk veil is placed over Francis' face, holy water is sprinkled over the body, and the bag with coins minted during the pontificate is placed.
Italian authorities estimate that around 200,000 people will attend the funeral for the pontiff on Saturday before the coffin is moved in a funeral procession to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Francis will be buried.
Rome is preparing a large security deployment to host 170 international delegations, including "50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs." Among them, special attention will be given to Donald Trump, for whom a 'green zone' has been designated in the Villa Borghese neighborhood. In that area, traffic will be restricted, public demonstrations and the transport of goods classified as dangerous will be prohibited.
The protocol is a delicate diplomatic task to avoid conflictive situations. International delegations will be placed on the right side of the square while on the left side will be the cardinals.
The front rows are reserved for heads of state, with priority for the Italian and Argentine delegations. The front rows are also dedicated to royal houses, so the kings of Spain will be placed in those positions. Also present will be King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, Prince William of England, or the kings of the Netherlands. Then there is the complicated diplomatic game of presidents following the French alphabetical order.
Former President Joe Biden will attend Pope Francis' funeral with his wife
Former U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday, with whom the Democratic politician had a particularly close relationship, his office told Afp. His spokespeople clarified that the couple is traveling independently and not on the plane of the current president, Republican Donald Trump, who will also attend the funeral.
Francis gives a statue of Our Lady of Luján to the Catholic University and Gemelli Hospital
Pope Francis has given the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and Gemelli Hospital in Rome a statuette representing Our Lady of Luján adorned with the typical white mantle, as reported by Vatican News.
The rector of the Catholic University, Elena Beccalli, found the gift at the Casa Santa Marta where she went to pay homage to the Pontiff. According to a statement from the university, this is a final gift from the Pope as a sign of gratitude after the meeting on April 16, during which he expressed his gratitude to the officials and staff of the Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation, the Catholic University, and the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State for the care received during his hospital stay. The presence of Our Lady of Luján at the University makes that moment even more memorable for the Catholic University.
"I will look at her once again and again, I will let myself be looked at by her," said Francis in 2020 to the Archbishop of the diocese of Mercedes Luján, Monsignor Jorge Scheinig.
Cardinals will go to Santa Maria Maggiore to pray at Francis' tomb after the funeral
The cardinals will go on Saturday afternoon, after the funeral, to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where his coffin will arrive after a route that will cross the center of Rome.
The funeral procession will last about half an hour and will stop at the most symbolic places or where the largest number of faithful are gathered, as reported by the Vatican press office. The vehicle will allow the faithful to see the coffin as it passes through the streets of Rome.
Ukrainian Bishop: "Francis always supported Ukraine"
Pope Francis was one of the first world leaders to call the conflict in Ukraine a war, a country he continuously supported and had a "special" relationship with, defended the bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in London, Kenneth Nowakowski, in statements to Efe.
"Francis prayed every day at the Angelus for Ukraine. When Crimea was annexed (by Russia) and Donbass was invaded, he went to the Russian Embassy and asked for it to stop," Nowakowski said. For the eparch (equivalent to bishop) of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in London, the late pontiff was "one of the first world leaders to refer to it not as a civil conflict, but as a war."
German President signs the book of condolences for the death of Pope Francis
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signed on Friday at the Apostolic Nunciature in Berlin, the representation of the Holy See in Germany, in the official book of condolences for the death of Pope Francis, of whom he wrote that he "was a pope and a person among people."
"I share with the Catholics of Germany and the world the mourning for the loss of Pope Francis," he added, highlighting that with the death of the Supreme Pontiff "the world loses a shining symbol of hope, a credible advocate for humanity, and a convincing Christian," reports Efe.
He added that "his modesty, his spontaneity and his humor, his tangible deep faith and his plea for mercy have moved people around the world," to whom he gave "support, strength, and guidance."
150,000 people have bid farewell to Francis by noon
Around 150,000 people have passed by Pope Francis' coffin in St. Peter's Basilica to bid him a final farewell in the last three days until noon on Friday, the eve of his funeral, as confirmed by the Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni.
The lying in state of the Argentine pontiff, who passed away last Monday, will remain open until 7:00 p.m. local time this afternoon, before proceeding to the ceremony of closing the coffin before his solemn funeral on Saturday morning.
Civil Protection sends an alert to announce the closure of the square at 5:00 p.m.
Italian Civil Protection has issued an alert on all mobile phones in Rome on Friday to announce that St. Peter's Square in the Vatican will be closed from 5:00 p.m. for the funeral preparations of Pope Francis, according to Charlotte Davies.
"Civil Protection Department - Farewell to Pope Francis. Closing time of St. Peter's Square from 5:00 p.m. (15:00) on April 25. For routes and schedules of the funeral www.protezionecivile.it," says the message, which can be read in Italian, English, French, and Spanish due to the high number of tourists and faithful in the Italian capital.
Two hours later, the lying in state of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica will be closed to prepare for the ceremony of sealing the coffin
Cardinals and Vatican personalities attend the coffin sealing ritual
Several cardinals and personalities of the Holy See will attend the ritual of sealing Pope Francis' coffin, which will take place at 8:00 p.m. The event will be presided over by the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, and will mark the end of the public wake in St. Peter's Basilica.
Among the attendees will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals; Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, Cardinal Priest; Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Cardinal Protodeacon; Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.