Catholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis as public viewing begins

Thousands of individuals started to enter St. Peter’s Basilica to say their final goodbyes to Pope Francis on Wednesday, marking the beginning of three days of public viewing before his funeral. A large number of devoted followers made their way to the main altar of the 16th-century basilica where the pope’s open wooden casket was placed, with Swiss Guards standing nearby. The Vatican anticipates tens of thousands more visitors over the next few days and is considering extending the viewing hours due to the high turnout.

In the first 8 1/2 hours, 19,430 people paid their respects to Pope Francis as he lay in state, dressed in red robes and holding a rosary, adhering to his wish for a simpler papal funeral. Cardinals gathered privately to finalize arrangements for the funeral and the subsequent conclave to elect the next pope. Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, was known for his advocacy for the underprivileged and message of inclusivity, though his progressive stance sometimes faced criticism from conservative factions.

The public viewing is scheduled to conclude on Friday at 7 p.m., after which the casket will be sealed ahead of the funeral on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square. The conclave to select the new pope, likely from the 133 eligible cardinals, is expected to commence after May 5. Amid the transition, there is anticipation and uncertainty surrounding the selection of the next pontiff, with the possibility of a representative from Asia, as speculated by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik. The event is overseen by tightened security measures in the Vatican, as pilgrims continue to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations initiated by Pope Francis.