Catholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis in St.
Peter's Basilica
[April 23, 2025]
By COLLEEN BARRY and NICOLE WINFIELD
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of people filed through the central aisle
of St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on
Wednesday, the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the
pontiff's funeral.
Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century
basilica's main altar, where Francis' simple wooden casket was perched
on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention. Over the
coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through
the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.
Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for
Saturday's funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis' successor.
Francis died on Monday at age 88, capping a 12-year pontificate
characterized by his concern for the poor and message of inclusion, but
also some criticism from conservatives who sometimes felt alienated by
his progressive bent.
Wednesday opened with the bells of St. Peter’s tolling as pallbearers
carried Francis' body from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the
basilica in a procession through the same piazza where he had delivered
what became his final goodbye. Francis made a surprise popemobile tour
through the faithful on Easter Sunday, after being assured by his nurse
he could despite his continued frail health from a bout of pneumonia.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican temporarily until a
new pope is elected, led the procession down the central aisle to the
altar, with clouds of incense preceding him and the choir chanting the
Litany of Saints hymn. In pairs, cardinals in red cassocks approached
the casket, bowed and made a sign of the cross, followed by small groups
of purple-robbed bishops, black-clad ushers, priests and nuns — and then
the doors were thrown open to the public.
Heads of state are expected for Francis' funeral, but the three days of
public viewing in the basilica allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the
Argentine pope. The viewing ends Friday at 7 p.m., after which Francis'
casket will be closed and sealed.
Simplified rituals reflect Francis' wishes
Francis' death and funeral inaugurates a carefully orchestrated period
of transition in the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church, with cardinals
gathering over the coming days before entering into a conclave, the
secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. There
are 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote, and the new pontiff
will likely come from within their ranks. The conclave is not expected
to begin before May 5.
South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, who heads the Vatican's
office for priests, predicted a short conclave, but acknowledged the
transition is full of uncertainties.
“We'll see what the Holy Spirit says,” he said Wednesday. Asked if the
next pope could come from Asia, where the Catholic Church is growing, he
insisted: “For the Lord, there's no East or West.”
Papua New Guinea’s first and only cardinal, John Ribat, prepared
Wednesday to leave for Rome to participate in the vote, pleased to
represent the poor South Pacific island nation of 12 million people and
more than 800 languages in a College of Cardinals that Francis greatly
diversified over 12 years.
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The body of Pope Francis is carried through St. Peter's Square to
St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025,
where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Stefano
Costantino)
“The important thing is that … Papua New Guinea is part of the
church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative
from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing,” Ribart told the
Australian Broadcasting Corp. He said he hoped the next pope would
be someone who could lead the church in “a way that is truthful and
binds everyone together.”
Francis first lay in state in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in a
private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.
Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed the pope in an open
casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red
robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal
Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis.
Once inside the basilica, Francis' casket wasn't put on an elevated
bier — as was the case with past popes — but placed on a ramp,
facing the pews. It was in keeping with Francis' wishes for all the
rituals surrounding a papal funeral to be simplified to reflect his
belief that the pope's role is that of simple pastor, not world
leader.
“For me, Pope Francis represents a great pastor, as well as a great
friend to all of us,’’ said Micale Sales, visiting St. Peter’s
Basilica from Brazil.
Italian police have tightened security for the viewing and the
funeral, carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican,
where pilgrims continued to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations
that Francis opened in December. The faithful who walk through St.
Peter’s Holy Door during such years are granted indulgences, a way
to help atone for sins.
“I think he spread a positive message around the world, saying there
shouldn’t be any violence, there should be peace around the world,’’
said Amit Kukreja, from Australia.
Planning for the conclave is now underway
The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s
Square, and will be attended by leaders including U.S. President
Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy.
Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the
conclave and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.
History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his
humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many
conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.
Francis had some reservations about his final popemobile tour
through St. Peter’s Square on Easter, Vatican News reported on
Tuesday. But he overcame them, the news agency said, and was
thankful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.
“The death of a pope is not a small thing, because we’ve lost our
leader,’’ Julio Henrique from Brazil said just outside the basilica.
“But still, in a few days, we will have a new leader. So … the thing
of hope remains. Who will assume Peter’s throne?”
___
Associated Press reporters Silvia Stellacci and Trisha Thomas
contributed to this report.
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