Funeral preparations for Pope Francis underway as world mourns
Pope Francis has returned to St. Peter’s Basilica one final time, his body now lying in state through Friday evening as mourners from across the globe arrive to pay their respects.
(NBC)-Pope Francis has returned to St. Peter’s Basilica one final time, his body now lying in state through Friday evening as mourners from across the globe arrive to pay their respects. The scene is solemn yet powerful, with hundreds of thousands expected to visit Vatican City for a final farewell.
“He’s in our hearts. He’s with God right now,” said Brandon Robles, a visitor from Guatemala, reflecting the emotions of many in the long lines outside the basilica.
Meanwhile, cardinals from around the world are arriving in Rome ahead of Saturday’s funeral. As the world watches, they are also gathering privately each day in what are known as “general congregations”—meetings where logistical matters are discussed and early conversations about the future of the Church begin.
“Cardinal X will say to Cardinal Y, ‘I’ve been talking to Cardinal Z—let’s go get a pizza,’” joked Philip Pullella, Reuters’ Vatican correspondent, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the informal beginnings of an extraordinary process.
Soon, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 will enter the Sistine Chapel for a secret conclave to elect the next pope. Remarkably, 108 of them were appointed by Pope Francis himself, with 20 representing countries that had never before held a seat in the College of Cardinals—an enduring symbol of Francis’ vision for a more inclusive and global Church.
“Cardinals really face two choices in this election,” explained Christopher White of the National Catholic Reporter. “Do they want to continue on the path of reform that Francis initiated, opening the Church up to the modern world, or choose a course correction—electing a pope more focused on doctrine and discipline?” The answer will come only when white smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pontiff has been chosen.
