Pope Francis ‘ solemn funeral service on Saturday, attended by presidents, royalty, and ordinary people, was a solemn one. A cardinal called for the pope’s tradition to care for immigrants, the underprivileged, and the environment to be preserved. In the great St. Peter’s Square, US President Donald Trump sat with the rows of foreign officials on one side of Francis ‘ casket. He had clashed with the bishop on those issues.
On the other side sat chiefs who may choose Francis ‘ successor at a conference the following month, deciding whether the new pope may continue with the later cleric’s drive for a more receptive Cathedral or cede to liberals who want to return to a more traditional church. The Brazilian bishop, who had a 12-year reign, passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke. Pope Francis, who presided over the dead mass, was characterized as “rich in animal warmth and deeply vulnerable to the challenges of today” by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who spoke of the emotions at the funeral service. More than 250, 000 people, according to the Vatican, cramming the circle and the streets nearby, were present for the meeting.
Re’s remarks about Francis ‘ love for newcomers, his unwavering requests for peace, the need for peace talks to end war, and the importance of addressing climate change caused them to swell in applause.
When the attendants picked up the tomb and tilted it somewhat so that more people may see, they clapped violently once at the end of the service.
A mishmash of colors was visible in aerial photographs of the Vatican, including dark from some 250 cardinal, purple from some 400 priests, and pale from 4, 000 attending priests.
The casket was transported from Rome’s heartland to St. Mary Major Basilica as the great bell of St. Peter’s pealed in mourning after the death.
Francis had requested to become buried there rather than St. Peter’s, which is the customary resting position for rulers, because he opposed much of the pomp and clout of the church during his 12-year era. The cremation itself was being held in complete anonymity. Instead of the elaborate Renaissance flats in the apostolic house, the popemobile left from the Perugino Gate, a side gate just feet away from the Santa Marta hotel where Francis had chosen to reside.
The way to St. Mary Major, which was estimated by officers to be populated by a crowd of about 150, 000, was paved with people.
Some people lowered the tomb with flowers, while others lowered them. As the procession made its way around Rome’s ancient monuments, including the Colosseum, they yelled “viva il papa” and” ciao, Francesco” ( long live the pope ).
Trump had the chance to have a small gathering with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following the funeral. The president of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines, Poland, the perfect ministries of Britain and New Zealand, as well as numerous royals, including the king and queen of Spain, were among the different heads of state who attended the funeral. Francis ‘ passing marked a properly planned transition phase, which was characterized by old ritual, pomp, and mourning. Around 250, 000 people have gathered past his empty coffin, laid out before the shrine of the gaping cathedral, over the past three weeks.
The funeral service singers recited Latin hymns and blessings in several languages, including Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic, demonstrating the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church’s global reach. In the early morning, many of the honest hurriedly to the front of the group in search of areas while others camped out in vain.
( This is a Reuters story. )
