50 heads of state and 10 monarchs expected for Pope’s Funeral

As of 1:00 p.m. local time, more than 61,000 faithful have paid their final respects to the body of Pope Francis lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced yesterday.

Preparations are well underway for the Pontiff’s funeral on Saturday, which is expected to be one of the largest in recent Vatican history. According to officials, 130 foreign delegations, including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs, have confirmed their attendance in Vatican City. Current projections estimate that up to 450,000 mourners may attend the funeral ceremonies.

The Pope’s final resting place has also been completed. Located in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s most revered churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the tomb is crafted from Italian marble from the Genoa region. It bears the Latin inscription Franciscus and features a single symbolic item: a replica of the iron cross the Pontiff often wore — a nod to his enduring reputation as “the Pope of the Poor.”

The burial site is adjacent to the sanctuary of Saint Francis of Assisi and lies just a few meters from the Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child, Salus Populi Romani, in front of which Pope Francis frequently prayed.

Following the conclusion of the funeral Mass, a solemn procession will depart from the Vatican and slowly make its way through the heart of Rome, culminating at Santa Maria Maggiore near the city’s central train station.

Source: ANA-MPA