Cardinals Deliberate on Conclave Following the Death of Pope Francis

On Thursday, the cardinals who are already in the Vatican are discussing essential decisions for the coming days at their third official meeting since the death of Pope Francis.

Preparations for Conclave After Death of Pope Francis

Behind closed doors, the cardinals are likely discussing a date for the start of the conclave. It is still unclear when the new election of the pope will begin. It is expected that it could be early May before the cardinals retreat to the Sistine Chapel for the conclave.

Huge Crowds After Death of Pope Francis: St. Peter's Basilica Open at Night

Meanwhile, after only a short break in the early morning, the faithful are flocking back to St. Peter's Basilica. There, they pay their last respects to Francis, who is laid out in an open casket in front of the main altar. People walk closely towards the casket and then pass by on the left and right. Many capture the moment with their smartphones, others pray. The crowd is immense: Instead of closing St. Peter's Basilica at midnight as originally planned, the faithful were able to enter the most significant church of the Catholic faith after hours of queuing until 5:30 a.m. After a one-and-a-half-hour break, the doors reopened at 7:00 a.m. According to the Vatican, around 61,000 people had paid their respects to the deceased head of the Catholic Church in the basilica by Thursday noon.

Kilometer-Long Queues Across Squares and Streets

A queue about a kilometer long quickly formed. It led in zigzag lines across adjacent squares and side streets. Security forces and volunteers managed the traffic. By late morning, the queue had grown to double its size, according to estimates. People were then standing - partly in the rain - in zigzag lines on the wide Via della Conciliazione, which leads directly to St. Peter's Square. "I've been standing here with my group since half-past five," reported the German pilgrim Anja Donaubauer.

Elaborate Security Plan for the Burial of Pope Francis

Due to the many faithful, it was foreseeable that St. Peter's Basilica would remain largely open on the night from Thursday to Friday. However, on Friday evening, the basilica will be closed at 7:00 p.m., and the casket will be sealed and prepared for the funeral service. This will pose a major challenge for the organizers and security forces in Rome. Around 170 delegations from all over the world, including heads of state and government like US President Donald Trump, have announced their attendance. Police and civil protection have been working on their plans for the day for days. On this day, not only must the ceremony on St. Peter's Square be organized and secured, but also the transport of Francis's casket across the city to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, six kilometers away. There, the pontiff will be buried in a private ceremony.

(APA/Red)

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