Angelo Carconi / EPA
Thousands of faithful have already visited the tomb of Francis, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, an imposing fifth century church in the center of Rome, where the Pope decided to be buried. The wait is over two and a half hours, but it’s worth it, because “the Pope deserved” – for what they did for people who don’t believe it.
It is a flood never seen in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, to which thousands of the faithful have moved – and some refuse to leave after hours of waiting, just to be more moments with your Popedespite the crowd.
The Argentine Pope, who on Monday, at the age of 88, declared in late 2023 that he wanted to be buried in this Roman Basilica, not in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, as it happens more than three centuries ago.
Very linked to the cult of the Virgin Mary, Francisco Prayed frequently in this temple, which is officially part of the Vatican territory, and it is usual to do so the day before in the return of each of their trips abroad.
“Shortly after the sculpture of the Queen of Peace (Virgin Mary), there is a small venue, a door that leads to a room they used to store the chandeliers. I saw her and thought: This is the place“Francisco told Spanish journalist specializing in Vatican affairs Javier Martinez-Brocalin the book ‘El Successor’.
The last of the seven popes who chose the Basilica from to the resting site was Clemente IXem 1669.
The interior of the basilica, derived from gold carving, works almost as a speaker that Decreases the noise of the externalR – And the most tired enjoy the chairs placed on the main ship to rest.
This is the case of Maria Santoa Spanish that prays the third to see the tomb of Francis, which “Just for that” made the trip enforce From Corunha to Rome on Friday.
“I couldn’t come earlier, but today I came here early and I will stay here a little more,” he says, sitting in one of the chairs closest to the tomb, illuminated with a more intense color that highlights the new white marble.
By your side, People pray or try to repeat the photo From the tomb that did not satisfy them when they passed by, pushed by the security guards.
At the foot of the hill where Single Marian Papal Basilica of Romethe authorities stretched ribbons to allow the lines to serve the hill.
Among the thousands they were waiting for, is the Portuguese João Pedro30 years, dress With a Sporting T-shirt, evoking the former gaucho central Anderson Polga, born less than 30 kilometers from Jorge Bergoglio Argentina.
João Pedro had marked a trip to Rome, with his mother and aunts, a few months ago, but Francisco’s death changed the script planned. “I’ve been to the Basilica to see the Pope and now I’m here. Things have changed a little”, Turning a tourist visit into a religious trip.
“I’m not a believer, they are,” said the Porto, pointing to family members. “But I’m here because I wantI’m not thanks. Why The Pope deservedfor what it did, for the way attracted people who don’t believe“And” by the way it was an example for the world, “he explained.
Now, as for future of a church where you still don’t believeJoão Pedro is afraid. “I fear there is some retreat, because what he did was unique,” he says.
A waiting for two and a half hours Appealed to an Indian line.
MariaBasilica employee, Never saw such a floodincreased after the end of the mass that marks the adolescents jubilee in São Pedro Square, three and a half kilometers away.
“They are 10,000 people per hour. All very respectful, all in silence. AND Beautiful to see this”, Observes the employee, while guiding volunteers and elements of civil protection that organize the surrounding area.
Already outside the Basilica, Lusa found a group of Four Brazilian friendswho arrived in Rome after a visit to Portugal.
One of them, João Negrini Netohe explains that “by a happy coincidence,” they had already marked a visit to see the holy door of that church, so they did not have to wait as long as those who moved on purpose to observe Pope Francis’ grave and were in line.
The Brazilian, accompanied by his wife and friends, made a point of seeing the tomb where the leader of the Catholic Church was buried, noting that “it is an opportunity for ordinary people to say goodbye to him, who represented so much to humanity.”
The lawyer, 42, confided that he shivered at that moment and indicated that “really It is a different atmosphereit’s a holy thing. ”
“There is a very big devotion by the Pope figure. I am sure this basilica will become a place of pilgrimage, certainly from now on, to the Catholic Church and to all the faithful, ”he said.
In the bars in front of the basilica were deposited some flowers and some branches and, in a building in front, a large strip was placed, written in red letters with white background, where it reads “Thanks, Francesco”(Thank you, Francisco).
Not interior, The highlight is the Pope’s tombin one of the sides of the Basilica, placing in a secondary place the icon that led the Argentine Jesuit to want to be buried in that place, Image of Our Lady so -called Safety of the Roman peopleattributed to St. Luke Evangelist.
The image is in one of the sides of the church forbidden to the public and one of the security guards told Lusa that no one, of those who today sought the cathedral, asked to see.
Two hours ago in line, Argentina Bella Deletris32 years old was almost coming in and does not complain about waiting time. “We are all making the same way”He explains, integrated into a group of Argentines that came from Cordova.
“We were thinking to come because of, but we came to it. Because of our Pope,” said Argentina. The Saint’s Canonization Ceremonyinfluencer‘, that was scheduled for todaywas suspended after the Pope’s death.
“Our Pope is because we are Argentines, it is because we are Catholics”, Bella points out, praising the“ church open to everyone who brought so many people did not care about faith ”to religious practice.
For the future, Bella calls for a successor to follow the example of Francis, who “set in the side of the poorest and the weak” before “the abuses of the powerful.”
About the nationality of the future Pope, the group of Argentines does not want to know. “It can even be Brazilian”Said another element, in reference to the historical rivalry between Argentina and Brazil, as regards the wearing sports t-shirts.
Pope Francis’ successor at the head of the Catholic Church will be chosen from among 135 cardinals who will meet next monthin a conclave that has no scheduled date, but should occur by May 6.
