Pope Francis: Selfies with a dead – thousands take goodbye

In St. Peter’s Basilica, numerous believers from Pope Francis said goodbye in the first few hours of public reconstruction. The body of the Pontifex, which died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, lies in an open coffin in front of the altar of the church. On St. Peter’s Square, people waited hours to get to the church. Some also took the opportunity to make a selfie with the dead Pope.

According to the Vatican, almost 20,000 said goodbye to the dead Pope in the first eight and a half hours after the elevation in St. Peter’s Basilica. According to estimates, more than 100,000 people were gathered on the square in the afternoon. There is time for a last look at Francis until Friday evening. Then the coffin is closed. On Saturday there is a mourning frequency on St. Peter’s Square, to which state guests from all over the world are expected. Francis is buried a few kilometers further in the Marienkirche Santa Maria Maggiore. So he had determined it himself.

A little more than 48 hours after his death, the native Argentinian was carried into the Peters’ Basis from his residence Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, where he also died. The open coffin was accompanied by eight security guards. Several dozen cardinals also took part in the solemn procession. In addition, the mourning ring sounded again. When the coffin arrived on the square, applause opened.

It was only on Easter Sunday that Francis had once again drove over St. Peter’s Square in the Papamobil after the blessing Urbi et Orbi. That was the last time in his twelve -year term that the public got him to see him alive. The second oldest Pope in history already seemed very weak. The morning afterwards he died: from the consequences of a stroke after he had long been in the hospital with a serious pneumonia in the spring.

Even in his lifetime, Francis had ordered that the rituals of the Catholic Church should run less pompous after the death of a Pope. His body is in St. Peter’s Basilica – unlike the emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. in January 2023 – not to be seen freely on a catafal, a high bahr. Francis rests in a wooden coffin, in red robe and with white headgear. A rosary was wrapped around his hands.

On his grave in Santa Maria Maggiore, only his name should be in Latin: Franciscus. Not even an indication that he was a Pope should exist. Work is currently still being done on the grave. The access is blocked with a wooden plate. Outside – like around the Vatican – there are already stricter security measures. The whole city will be in a state of emergency during the burial on Saturday.

Politicians and church representatives from all over the world will be there: US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, EU Commission Head Ursula von der Leyen, UN General Secretary António Guterres and many more. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the executive Chancellor Olaf Scholz come from Germany.

Possible encounters on such occasions are called “funeral diplomacy”. For Trump, it is the first trip abroad after his return to office. The topic on the edge could also be the peace efforts for Ukraine. According to the White House, the US President only wants to come to Rome for one day.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin does not come. There has been an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court since 2023. When landing in Italy, he would have to expect a arrest. The background is the invasion of Ukraine he ordered.

The police and all other security forces are faced with a logistical mammoth task. Because of the Holy Year 2025, Rome is still fuller than usual in Easter week. According to estimates, around a million tourists are currently in the Italian capital. In addition, pilgrims will make their way to say goodbye to the Pope.

After the funeral celebrations, the conclave focuses on, which will probably start in May. Actually, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to choose the new Pope. However, two cardinals – the emeritus archbishop of Valencia, Antonio Cañizares, 79, and the emeritus archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljić, 79, canceled for health reasons. This will probably now decide 133 churchmen about who Francis’ Will successor.

The electoral courses are secret. The conclave can be over after a few hours, but also take days. There is no time limit. To choose from, the new Pontifex needs a two -thirds majority. When he is chosen, white smoke rises from a chimney. Until then, the smoke is black after the electoral courses.