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Pope Francis; last words, ‘Thank you for bringing me back to the square’
The farewell to his nurse before his coma. Saturday at 10am the funeral at St. Peter’s, preceded by the funeral chamber in the Basilica
‘Thank you for bringing me back to the square’. These would be the last words of Pope Francis, addressed to his trusted nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, after the crowd in the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of the Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing. This was reported by the Vatican media, according to which the Pontiff, before that moment, allegedly asked in an uncertain voice: ‘Do you think I can do it?’.
In the following hours, the progressive worsening of his condition up to the coma, which came on Monday morning. At 5.30 a.m., the first signs of illness and the timely intervention of medical personnel. Shortly after, a last hand gesture addressed to Strappetti from the bed of his flat in Casa Santa Marta. Then silence. According to Vatican sources, death occurred without suffering.
Saturday the funeral, tomorrow the funeral chamber in the Basilica
The funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday at 10am on the parvis of St Peter’s Basilica, on the first day of the Novendiali, the nine days of prayer that follow the death of a Pontiff. Presiding at the funeral liturgy will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio will take place. Afterwards, the coffin will be transferred to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where burial will take place.
The funeral chamber will be opened tomorrow at 9 a.m. The coffin will be taken from the Chapel of the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ to the Vatican Basilica, passing through Piazza Santa Marta and Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani. The entrance will be through the central door of the Basilica, with a moment of prayer led by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Five days of national mourning
As announced by the Minister for European Affairs and the Pnrr Tommaso Foti, the Council of Ministers proclaimed five days of national mourning, starting on Tuesday 22 April. Flags are flown at half-mast and public engagements of the authorities are suspended, except for charity events.
The country is preparing to say goodbye to a Pontiff who has profoundly marked the recent history of the Church and the feelings of millions of faithful around the world.
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(Photo: © AndKronos)
