Thousands pay respects to late Pope Francis #news
(AP) Heads of state and royalty will start converging on Rome on Friday for the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, but the group of poor people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp. U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are among the leaders arriving Friday, the last day Argentine pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica before his coffin is sealed in the evening in preparation for his funeral Saturday. The Vatican said 130 delegations are confirmed, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns. PAYING RESPECTS Tens of thousands of mourners have waited hours in line to bid farewell to Francis, who died Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88. A higher-than-expected turnout prompted the Vatican to extend the basilica's opening hours overnight. By Friday morning, more than 128,000 mourners had filed past Francis' open coffin placed in front of the basilica’s main altar — at times praying, at times holding smart phones aloft — despite instructions not to — for a photo of the late pontiff laid out in red robes, a bishop's pointed miter and a rosary entwined in his hands. St. Peter's Basilica remained open most of the second night, closing for just a few hours. Mourners began arriving before dawn, and sprinted into the piazza when security reopened the flows. Giovanni Guarino drove from Naples with his girlfriend to make their final farewells to the Francis, moved by his work to help the young and disadvantaged. “I hope that his successor follows the footsteps of Francis,” Guarino said. The three days of public viewing are scheduled to end at 6 p.m. on Friday — an hour earlier than previously announced — after which Francis simple wooden coffin will be sealed. Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin in his role of camerlengo, or interim Vatican administrator. A white cloth will be placed over the pope's face, and a bag containing coins minted during his papacy will be put in the coffin along with a one-page written account of his papacy. Full coverage: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/nat...
