Pope Francis funeral newest: World leaders arriving to pay respects at historic Vatican ceremony | EUROtoday

With 170 world leaders attending Pope Francis’s funeral, the seating plan has been described by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, chief of Catholics in England and Wales, as a “master plan” in stage-managing “big egos”.

The official delegations will sit at a piece to the correct of the altar on the high of the steps main towards St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis’s beginning nation of Argentina will take priority within the seating preparations, adopted by Italy, because the pope is the bishop of Rome and the chief of the nation’s Catholic bishops.

Thereafter, reigning sovereigns reminiscent of Prince William will probably be seated “in alphabetical order, but in French language”, as that is thought-about the language of diplomacy.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated on Friday that no distinction could be made between Catholic and non-Catholic royalty for the seating order.

This will probably be adopted by heads of state, and later heads of presidency just like the UK prime minister and Donald Trump – who could also be disillusioned to seek out himself not within the entrance row.

At 10am native time (9am UK time), the funeral for Pope Francis will start.

Here is how we expect it to unfold:

– Before 10am, a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals – together with over 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns – will file into the sq..

– The funeral will begin at 10am, when the Pope’s coffin will probably be laid within the sq. in entrance of the basilica.

– The service will probably be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals and will probably be largely held in Latin.

– The two-and-a-half hour ceremony will start with the doorway antiphon, a number of psalm verses or scripture passages which can be historically sung or recited.

– This will probably be adopted by the Penitential Act which permits the devoted to admit their sins to God and a gap prayer.

– The first studying will probably be given in English by Kielce Gussie, a journalist from Vatican News. The second studying will probably be delivered in Spanish by Edgar Pineda. This will probably be adopted by the Universal prayers.

– Before the top of the mass, Cardinal Re will sprinkle the coffin with holy water and incense.

– At the top of the mass, the choir will sing in Latin: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.”

– When the service is over, the coffin will probably be carried by way of the “door of death” to the left of the altar at St Peters, whereas a 10-ton funeral bell tolls.

– Pope Francis’ physique will then be carried to his remaining resting place in St Mary Major Basilica in Rome. This is predicted to take round half-hour, relying on crowds.

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Following the “novemdiales”, a papal conclave will start to elect a brand new pope. Cardinals will have the ability to begin this course of from 5 May.

While 135 cardinals of voting age are in a position to participate within the conclave, two are unable to make it to Rome for well being causes.

The remaining 133 cardinals will collect contained in the Sistine Chapel – house of all of the Papal Conclaves since 1858, the place they’ll whittle down candidates by way of successive rounds of voting.

This course of can take between days and weeks.

The conclave is secretive. The cardinals are forbidden from speaking with the skin world, and the gathering begins and ends with ritual phrases in Latin: “Extra omnes” or “Everyone out”, expelling all but voting cardinals.

A two-thirds majority is required to become pope, and after the ballot, the victorious cardinal utters, “Accepto” or “I accept”.

Albert Toth and Rachel Clun report right here…

Italian authorities have activated one of many largest safety operations in Rome’s current historical past forward of Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.

Alongside 4,000 law enforcement officials, counter-drone items and fighter jets implementing a strict no-fly zone over the capital, the Vatican’s personal Swiss Guard, usually a ceremonial drive, has additionally been introduced in to assist safe Vatican City and St Peter’s Square, the place tens of hundreds are anticipated to assemble. The guards, well-known for his or her medieval-style uniforms, have undergone safety coaching as a part of the preparations.

The prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, stated the “security machine is ready” however would stay versatile to make sure a “sense of serenity” throughout the occasion.

In addition to the safety measures, a particular taskforce of 400 sanitation staff and 150 automobiles has been deployed to keep up public cleanliness within the sq., whereas pharmacy opening hours throughout Rome have been prolonged to spice up obtainable medical providers.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his spouse, Olena Zelenska, have simply arrived in Rome to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on the Vatican, Ukrainian media reported citing a authorities spokesperson.

There was some uncertainty round Mr Zelensky’s presence on the funeral after Kyiv was hit by large Russian air strikes earlier this week.

Archbishops and bishops will begin gathering within the Constantine Wing, a hall adjoining to St Peter’s Basilica at 8.30am native time (7.30am BST).

At the identical time, Catholic monks will begin congregating in St Peter’s Square.

Patriarchs from the Orthodox church and cardinals will congregate in Saint Sebastian Chapel from 9am, contained in the basilica, the place the stays of Pope John Paul II lie.

While most popes are interred on Vatican grounds, Pope Francis has damaged from custom along with his request to be buried outdoors the holy metropolis.

Instead, he will probably be buried at St Mary Major in Rome. He is the primary pope in 120 years to decide on a burial floor outdoors the Vatican.