Huge crowds at Vatican ahead of Pope's funeral

The Vatican entered the final phase of preparations Friday for the funeral of Pope Francis, as thousands of mourners streamed through St. Peter’s Basilica to bid farewell to the late pontiff.

Francis, the first Latin American pope and a reformer who led the Catholic Church for over a decade, died Monday at age 88. He had been hospitalized with severe pneumonia weeks earlier and made his final public appearance during Easter services.

Over 128,000 people have visited the Basilica during the three days of lying-in-state. The pope's coffin, placed before the high altar, will be closed Friday evening in a private ceremony attended by senior cardinals.

"Night is the most intimate moment... the Lord always manifests himself at night," said Nicoletta Tomassetti, 60, who paid her respects in the early hours of Friday. “It was very emotional,” she added.

Pope Francis's body is lying-in-state until Friday evening.AFP

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and Britain’s Prince William, are expected in Rome for Saturday’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square. At least 130 foreign delegations and 10 monarchs will be in attendance.

Italian and Vatican authorities have launched a massive security operation. Drones have been grounded, snipers are stationed on rooftops, and fighter jets are on standby. Police will activate additional checkpoints overnight. A no-fly zone will be in effect on the day of the funeral.

A massive security operation is under way for the funeral.AFP

The Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers remember Francis as a pope of the margins — an advocate for the poor, migrants, and the vulnerable. His final public message condemned contempt for society’s most marginalized.

"He was very merciful, identified with the people," said Miracles Luna, 74, a mourner from the Dominican Republic. “He is the best one.”

Following the funeral, Francis’s coffin will travel through central Rome past landmarks including the Colosseum before arriving at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his favorite church, where he will be buried. His grave will bear a single word: Franciscus.

A group of poor and homeless individuals will welcome the coffin at the church, honoring the pope’s lifelong commitment to the underprivileged.

Public viewing of the tomb begins Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the College of Cardinals has begun informal meetings ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, which is expected to take place between 15 and 20 days after Francis’s death.

Only cardinals under 80 — currently 135 — are eligible to vote. Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin is currently considered the frontrunner, with other possible contenders including Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Ghana’s Peter Turkson.