Grief for Francis: Farewell to Francis: “Gracias”, wait and tear

In front of the mighty main altar of St. Peter’s cathedral lies the body of the late Pope Francis: he wears a red liturgical robe and a white miter on his head, a simple rosary can be seen over his hands folded in front of his body. It is only slightly increased and not like its predecessors on an imposing catafalk, i.e. a high bahr. So Francis had a sign of modesty before his death.

Before the coffin, believers are pushing over to personally say goodbye. At first hundreds, soon there are thousands – already on the first day of public attitude. Several women kneel on the side of the hard marble floor. One of them cries and hides their face behind their hands. In the meantime, more and more people are flocking past Francis’ body, dozens of them film and photograph this moment with their cell phones.

In the morning the simple wooden coffin was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica in a solemn ceremony. The emotions are great for some of the tens of thousands of believers on St. Peter’s Square: they struggle past them with tears – led by cardinals, bishops, priests, confessional fathers of St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican employees.

Francis was considered a “Pope to touch” and philanthropist. He did not shy away from direct contact with the believers, on the contrary: he loved the bath in the crowd. He shook hands, hugged, blessed Babies. The farewell is all the more painful for many of his followers. And the crowd of St. Peter’s Square is huge to pay the last honor.

“Gracias, Papa Francisco”, stands on a hand -painted shield that a girl holds in her hands with an Argentine flag. In St. Peter’s Basilica, it continues in centimeters by centimeter, the people from Francis’ birthland have only a few steps to the coffin in front of them.

Big rush in front of St. Peter’s Basilica

In front of the big church, a long line of believers and visitors quickly formed. Everyone wants Francis, it seems. Some came to the Vatican in the early morning. The snake is so long in the meantime that a waiting time of about eight hours has assumed.

Last appearance on Easter Sunday

Francis has been doing badly for some time. In spring he had to be treated in the hospital for more than a month. He suffered from severe pneumonia, several times he floated in mortal danger. Many believers have already prepared for an approaching death. But after five weeks, the Pope left the Gemelli Clinic in Rome and returned to the Vatican.

Despite a prescribed resting phase of two months, several surprise appearances followed in public. However, he only partly took part in the big Easter celebrations: on Easter Sunday, he still donated the traditional blessing Urbi et Orbi from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He seemed very weak. Less than 24 hours later, he died – from the consequences of a stroke, which then led to a coma and heart failure.

Rome in the coming weeks in the state of emergency

Believers from Francis can say goodbye to Friday evening. Then the open coffin is closed. On Saturday there is a large funeral service with numerous state guests from all over the world in the Vatican. The dead Pope is then buried in the Marienkirche Santa Maria Maggiore. A few days before the great event, Rome is in a state of emergency. According to the Italian civil protection, around 200,000 people are expected to become a funeral service.

After the funerals, the conclave, i.e. the choice of a new Pope, is focused on. It should begin in early May. Strictly shielded, the cardinals entitled to vote begin in the Sistine chapel with the choice. Actually, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to choose the new Pope, but two cardinals canceled for health reasons.

Great emotions before Pope-Sarg

However, the thought of the approaching conclave does not yet arise among the numerous people who stand in line for St. Peter’s Basilica. First of all, the focus is on the memory of the Pontifex from Latin America. But there is not only grief in St. Peter’s Basilica, gratitude can also be felt. On the sides of the huge basilica, young and older believers sit on the floor and chat. Francis could also be relaxed and relaxed.

The coffin is blocked with barrier ropes, so that nobody can get too close to the body. Touching the coffin as a gesture of farewell are not possible. Nevertheless, numerous believers and visitors will take place in the next three days to pay the last honor to Pope Francis, the former “Pope to touch”.