LIVE VIDEO – 60 thousand faithful lined up for the last farewell to Pope Francis

The homage to the Pontiff continues uninterrupted at St. Peter’s. Coffin closed on 25 April, burial at St. Mary Major the following day

The continuous homage of the faithful to Pope Francis, who died a few days ago, began in the early hours of yesterday. St. Peter’s Square saw thousands of people stream in, many of whom remained in queues for the entire night. After a brief closure at dawn, from 5.30 a.m. to 7 a.m., the Basilica reopened and the square quickly filled up again.

According to Vatican sources, over 48,000 faithful have already paid homage to the Holy Father’s body from 11am yesterday until 8.30am this morning, with 13,000 entering from midnight to the morning closure alone.

Last hours for the ostension: Friday the closing of the coffin

The ostension of the body will continue until 7pm on Friday 25 April, when the coffin will be closed. At 7.30 p.m., in the Vatican Basilica, the rite foreseen in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis will begin, presided over by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church.

Alongside him, numerous figures from the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia will participate in the ceremony: among them, Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Roger Mahony, Dominique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Pietro Parolin, Baldassare Reina and Konrad Krajewski. Also present were high prelates such as Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra, Monsignor Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza and Monsignor Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical celebrations.

Burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

On Saturday 26 April, at the end of the funeral Mass, Pope Francis’ coffin will be accompanied to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the burial will take place. This moment will also be presided over by the camerlengo, as provided for in the ritual of the papal funeral.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)