Catholics bid final farewell as Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. (CNA photo\Vatican Media)

By Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency

Updated by Emily Woodham, Idaho Catholic Register

Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome until 8 p.m. Central European Time on Friday, April 25. It is then that his casket will be sealed. His funeral is planned for Saturday, April 26.

Long lines of mourners, many waiting more than four hours under the hot

Roman sun, wound around St. Peter’s Square on the first day of viewing on April 23. Vatican officials extended basilica’s hours past midnight to accommodate the large turnout. More than 50,000 mourners passed through the Basilica to pay their respects to the pope in the first 24 hours.

“The crowds are just packed… but overall it was beautiful,” said

Arianne Gallagher-Welcher, a pilgrim from Washington, D.C. “You could

feel how special it was for everyone … a really nice chance to say

goodbye to Pope Francis.”

Gallagher-Welcher reflected on the significance of the Jubilee

Year of Hope. “We were here during the Jubilee in 2000,” she said.

“To thank and celebrate the life of Pope Francis during the Jubilee Year

of Hope is just an incredible gift.”

As people slowly made their way to the basilica, some prayed the rosary

while others sang hymns. Once inside, people were able to spend a moment in

prayer before the late pope’s open casket in front of the main altar and

the tomb of St. Peter.

Clad in red vestments, a bishop’s miter on his head, and a rosary clasped

in his hands, Francis was watched over in silence by four Swiss Guards

standing vigil

“As we got closer to the body of our Holy Father, it was very emotional to see him,” reflected Father Fabian Marquez of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas. “But I’m so

grateful for all the great things he did for the community, bringing people

together.”

“And my personal prayer was that now he intercedes for the next Peter to

come so that the next Peter can lead us where the Lord desires us to go,”

Marquez said.

Marquez had traveled to Rome with fellow priests for the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was postponed until after the election of a new pope. (Only a pope can declare a person a saint in the canonization process.)

Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. (CNA photo\Vatican Media)

“Everything changed since the news that our Holy Father had passed,”

Marquez said. “We decided to continue to come … just to be here with

him.”

“We were able to pray the rosary with the people and it was very

emotional just to be here outside of the basilica today … when they

transferred the body from Santa Marta to the basilica.”

The significance of the moment extended even to non-Catholics. Jai Agarwal,

a 21-year-old American student at John Cabot University in Rome, joined the

line to pay his respects.

“He would always advocate for peace,” Agarwal said. “He’s one of

the few people that just had genuine empathy.”

The funeral service for Pope Francis will be in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. Central European Time on Saturday, April 26. It will be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The funeral marks the first day of the Novemdiales, the nine days of mourning, with Masses each day for Pope Francis. The Masses will end on May 4.  

United States President Donald Trump stated that he and his wife, Melania, would attend the funeral. Other heads of state from around the world are also expected to attend.

If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here, or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Ste. 400, Boise, ID 83705, or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.