Pope Francis funeral newest: Public queue to pay respects for final time as world leaders fly in for Vatican ceremony | EUROtoday

A British cardinal has predicted the funeral will likely be a “masterpiece” in stage managing “big egos” as world leaders fly in to pay their respects on the funeral of Pope Francis.

The chief of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, stated organisers of what’s going to be an unlimited gathering of well-known names “are geniuses at dealing with these big events”.

The Archbishop of Westminster stated the funeral will likely be “without a doubt another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance”.

He added: “In the past, I’ve seen it here over and over again that the combination of Rome and the Holy See, they actually are geniuses at dealing with these big events.

“I think they’ve been doing it since the emperors ruled Rome – that they know how to deal with big egos. And I think every leader of a nation that comes here on Saturday, will go home reasonably content.”

The Fisherman’s Ring, or Ring fishermanis a gold ring worn by the pope, signifying his position because the successor of Saint Peter, the fisherman-turned-apostle.

It bears an engraving of Saint Peter casting his nets from a ship, together with the title of the reigning pope.

Traditionally, the ring serves to seal official papal paperwork — particularly apostolic letters — by being pressed into sizzling wax.

Upon a pope’s demise, the ring is ceremonially destroyed, sometimes with a silver hammer, to mark the top of his hold forth and forestall any misuse or forgery of paperwork.

A brand new ring is later made for the succeeding pope.

When a pope dies, the Vatican follows a collection of time-honoured rituals to make sure a easy and orderly transition.

The demise is formally confirmed by the Vatican’s well being chief and the chamberlain (cardinal chamberlain), presently Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell.

The pope’s physique is wearing white and positioned in his non-public chapel, then later in a coffin wearing crimson together with his mitre and pallium beside him.

The chamberlain drafts an official demise doc, secures the pope’s non-public papers, and seals his dwelling quarters.

One of probably the most symbolic acts is the ceremonial destruction of the fisherman’s ring with a hammer, marking the top of the pope’s authority and stopping doc forgeries.

But different rituals will comply with historical traditions, the Vatican introduced, with tens of 1000’s of mourners to descend on the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica to say farewell to the Catholic figurehead. More than 50,000 folks have already filed via St Peter’s Basilica to pay their ultimate respects to Pope Francis in simply the primary 12 hours of public viewing.

Below we take a look at how the service will unfold:

Mourners have sparked outrage after taking selfies with the open casket of Pope Francis.

The chief of the Roman Catholic Church is presently mendacity in state in St Peter’s Basilica forward of his funeral this weekend, with tens of 1000’s of individuals queueing to pay their respects.

However, some guests have attracted backlash after importing selfies to social media with the casket and the Pope’s physique within the background.

Other mourners who witnessed their behaviour spoke about their shock.

Janine Venables, a vacationer from Wales who paid her respects on Wednesday, informed MailOnline: “What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin.”

Vast crowds proceed to collect on the Vatican to mourn Pope Francis, whose stays lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Tens of 1000’s have already paid their respects, resulting in viewing hours being prolonged in a single day, and 1000’s extra are anticipated.

Long queues snake via St. Peter’s Square, with mourners patiently ready for hours to file previous Francis’s open coffin.

Around 19,430 folks had been to the basilica “to pay homage to Pope Francis”, a Vatican spokesman stated on Wednesday night, lower than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there, and the place it’s going to keep till Friday.

As the world prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, Rome and the Vatican are being remodeled right into a fortress.

With 50 heads of state, 10 monarchs, and a minimum of 130 international delegations as a result of attend Saturday’s funeral at St Peter’s Square, Italian and Vatican authorities are implementing a number of the tightest safety measures seen in latest reminiscence.

A no-fly zone has been declared, drones grounded, snipers positioned on rooftops, and fighter jets positioned on standby.

Streets surrounding the Vatican are underneath strict management, with regulation enforcement businesses coordinating to handle the anticipated inflow of lots of of 1000’s of mourners.

Security officers usually are not solely making ready for crowd administration but in addition diplomatic sensitivities, as world leaders — together with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Javier Milei, and Prince William — arrive in Rome.

The head of Pope Francis’s medical workforce has revealed new particulars concerning the pontiff’s ultimate moments.

Francis died with out undue struggling, and medical intervention couldn’t have saved him, Dr Alfieri stated.

He recounted receiving an pressing name round 5.30am on Monday, summoning him to the Vatican. Arriving about 20 minutes later, he discovered the Pope acutely aware however unresponsive.

“I entered his rooms and he (Francis) had his eyes open,” Dr. Alfieri informed Corriere della Sera.

The Vatican is finalising preparations for Pope Francis’s funeral, scheduled for Saturday in St Peter’s Square, following his demise at 88 on Monday from pneumonia.

Tens of 1000’s have paid their respects throughout his mendacity in state. His coffin will likely be sealed Friday night in a ceremony led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Over 130 international delegations, together with 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs — amongst them Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Prince William, and Argentina’s president Javier Milei — are anticipated to attend.

Security is tight, with snipers, drones blocked, and fighter jets on standby.

After the funeral, his coffin will likely be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, marked merely as Francis.