Now, thousands of people around the world are waiting in line for hours. They want to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, who, alas, died at 88 years old. His open casket is currently on display at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. Clad in papal vestments and clutching a rosary, it will be on view until Friday night. The mood is filled with a sense of sadness and respect. Behind us, the basilica’s bells are tolling softly as a men’s choir fervently intones psalms and prayers in Latin.
Pope Francis, who was 86, died at his home in Casa Santa Marta on Monday. He passed away from stroke and heart disease complications. As one longtime close friend said, his health had been failing lately. He was still getting over a double pneumonia and had just spent five weeks in the hospital. The Pope’s death signals the closure of a remarkable and important chapter in the Catholic Church’s history. His supporters all want to believe this will be the first step toward his eventual canonization as a saint.
As of Wednesday night, almost 20,000 people had lined up to pay their respects. A concerted effort to cast the late pontiff’s policies in a positive light. Some even made the journey from as far away as Cambodia and Fiji to take part in this historic day.
“It feels strange that he is no longer with us,” said Piotr Grzeszyk, reflecting on the emotional impact of the Pope’s passing.
Like Pope Francis himself, the planning of his funeral is simplicity incarnate. Unlike most of his predecessors, who had their coffins raised on platforms, Pope Francis opted for a more modest approach. His simple wooden coffin rests on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica. Two Swiss Guards provide round-the-clock protection with submachine guns. The choice to skip formal traditional pre-rituals fits within his broader push to curtail common papal customs and formalities throughout his papacy so far.
We’re willing to wait however long it takes,” said Abigail, one of the MOSES mourners who waited in line. Her enthusiasm struck a chord with the audience. They took a shine to the pontiff, who bent over backwards to democratize the Church.
Pope Francis’s funeral mass will be held Saturday morning at St. Peter’s Square. Dignitaries and the faithful are projected to gather in the millions to offer their respects. Her funeral will include sacred rituals from one of the world’s oldest faiths, practiced in that same region for almost 2 millennia. This will fulfill the great man’s legacy in a manner befitting his legendary stature.
As Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins of Toronto reflected, these rituals to prepare for the election of a new pope express what is most important. It was the most touching moment,” he said about the ceremonies. On this he insisted even more, noting that the late Pope had asked for modesty. He stressed that each component, from the prayers to the incense, looked like a ritual any baptized person would recognize.
Gunnar Prieß made clear at the outset that he was no Catholic. From there he expanded on the dubious atmosphere surrounding Pope Francis’s lying in state. What we’re seeing here today is the outward manifestation of that holy sacred ritual that’s 2,000 years old. He said, “There’s a spirit in the Vatican I want to feel.” His words point to the universality of the Pope’s legacy and of his appeal.