Darek Delmanowicz / EPA
Thousands are already in São Pedro to watch the ceremony
200 thousand faithful and the main figures of international politics (less two) gather in the Vatican to say one last goodbye to the Pope. In the middle, there is a prayer read in Portuguese. And there was even room for a conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Pope Francis’ funeral takes place this Saturday, six days after his death, at a ceremony that will be accompanied by thousands of faithful and dozens of heads of state and organizations leaders, which implied extraordinary security measures.
The funeral ceremonies of the Catholic Church leader, who died last Monday at 88, began at 10 am (less one hour in Lisbon) in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Nearly 50 heads of state And from a dozen monarchs, as well as leaders of international organizations, in a total of more than 160 international delegations, will be present at the ceremony, which required reinforced safety measures in the region of the Italian capital, Rome.
Among the dignitaries present, they include Donald Trump (United States) and its predecessor Joe Biden, António Guterres (United Nations), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine), or Reis Felipe VI and Letizia (Spain).
It seems to be fulfilled once again the unmistakable phrase of Francis: “all, all, all” in the Vatican. But There are exceptions: Russian head of state, Vladimir Putin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are of the few absent international leaders.
Portugal will be represented by the three highest figures in the state – the President of the Republic, MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSAthe President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro – as well as by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel.
At the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, world leaders will be sitting in alphabetical order, with the front places reserved for the Italian authorities, namely President Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as Javier Milei, Chief of State for Pope.
The Italian Ministry of Interior estimates that 200 thousand people They will watch the funeral ceremonies of Francis. For the next conclave – not yet scheduled – and the election of the new Pope, that number rises to 250 thousand.
The size of the ceremony forced extraordinary security measures, with 11 thousand soldiers and members of the mobilized security forces, not to mention the teams of international delegations.
The Italian Armed Forces announced a reinforcement of security with an anti-drug system, fighters, and a fresher on the coast of Fiumicino, near Rome’s main airport. The imposing security device for Francisco’s funeral also includes an air exclusion zone and exhaustive controls at airports and stations.
After the ceremonies in St. Peter’s Square, the funeral procession follows later, in a six kilometers course, Even to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, where Francis chose to be buried at a time that will be private at his request.
In the staircases of this basilica, and to pay the last tribute to the pontiff, will be a group of people, about 40, which will be integrated by poor and needy people, homeless, migrants, prisoners and transgenderrepresenting central themes of the 12th anniversary of Francisco.
The tomb that will welcome the body of the Argentine religious was made in marble of origin of Liguria, region in the northwest of Italy, and will present the inscription “Franciscus”, the name of the Pope in Latin, and the reproduction of his pectoral cross.
More than 250,000 people passed the São Pedro Basilica in the Vatican to say goodbye to Pope Francis, whose Coffin has been exposed with the altar since Wednesday In the morning until late Friday afternoon, when a private closing ceremony of the ballot box.
Witness and reading in Portuguese
Portuguese canon António Saldanha, from the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, will be one of the few Track private burial From the Pope today, whose coffin keeps an official biographical note that refers to its fight against sexual abuse.
“For me this is a chapter of the unavoidable history ”he told Ecclesia the priest, which is part of the chapter that generates Santa Maria Maior, one of the four papal basilica and the one that Francis chose to be his final grave.
“As a Portuguese and as a priest, I feel particularly happy, although the circumstance is to follow the last public acts of Pope Francis’ funeral ceremonies,” explained Faial’s Azorean priest.
In addition to this Portuguese brand in the funeral of Francisco, there will also be the PRAYER READING IN PORTUGUESEby the voice of Bianca Fraccalvieri, employee of Vatican Radio.
“Through the peoples of all nations, who relentlessly practicing justice, may always be united in fraternal love and incessantly seek the path of peace,” will be the phrase heard in St. Peter, advances.
A mysterious meeting
In the midst of all emotion, it may have passed by an important milestone for the war in Ukraine: before the funeral ceremony, the US President, Donald Trump, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy found themselves in Rome.
This is the First meeting between the two leaders after the disastrous episode na. It is not yet revealed details of the conversation.
President Trump and President Zelensky’s were in private today and had a very productive discussion, ”said Steven Cheung, White House communication director.“ More details about the meeting will be released, ”he says, quoted by the newspaper.
On Friday, Trump said Kiev and Moscow “are” about a ceasefire in the conflict in Ukraine.
