The Faithful Begin to Bid Their Farewell to Pope Francis
Pope Francis’ coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica, April 23, 2025. X/ @vaticannews_it
April 23, 2025 Hour: 5:35 am
Long lines began to form early in the morning as people waited for the St. Peter’s Basilica to open.
On Wednesday, thousands of faithful who had been waiting for hours for the opening of St. Peter’s Basilica to bid their final farewell to Pope Francis began to enter in an orderly fashion at 11:00 a.m.
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The basilica will remain open this Wednesday until midnight and will reopen tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., remaining accessible until Friday at 7:00 p.m., when it will close to begin the rite of the casket’s sealing.
Long lines began to form early in the morning as people waited for the basilica to open, and many were able to witness the transfer of the casket from the chapel of Santa Marta to St. Peter’s.
The faithful were only allowed to enter after the cardinals, bishops, and Vatican personnel had given their final farewell.
Pope Francis’ casket was placed in front of the tomb of St. Peter, beneath Bernini’s imposing baldachin, and the area was cordoned off to ensure people maintained a certain distance.
The coffin proceeded in a procession through Saint Martha’s Square, the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, and passed through the Arch of the Bells before emerging into St. Peter’s Square and entering the Vatican Basilica through the central door.
The casket was preceded by the cardinals currently in Rome and followed by those who were closest to the pontiff—his secretaries and his assistants.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
