Thousands of Catholic faithful streamed into St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday to pay their final respects as Pope Francis lay in state, marking the first of three days of public viewing before his funeral on Saturday.
The pontiff’s wooden coffin was placed at the Altar of the Confessio, in front of the tomb of St. Peter, after a solemn procession from his residence at Casa Santa Marta earlier in the morning. The body arrived inside the basilica at 9:30 a.m. local time, greeted by the tolling of bells and spontaneous applause from mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
By the end of the day, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni reported that at least 19,430 people had filed past the late pope’s coffin.
Among those in attendance were Roman residents Ludovico, 21, and Romano, 28, who arrived at 6 a.m. to witness the historic moment. “He was such a spiritual guide,” said Ludovico, who had seen the pope in person 15 years ago. “I wanted to celebrate his life.”
Inside the basilica, the atmosphere remained solemn and reverent. Despite hundreds of visitors moving through at any given time, the hall was mostly quiet, punctuated only by soft chanting, organ music, and the occasional cry of a child.
Due to the large crowd, mourners were allowed only a brief moment to view the pontiff. “It’s frustrating because you only have one second,” said Victoria Risso, who waited in line for more than three hours with her family. “But it was a powerful moment.”
Brinna Bitenco, a 40-year-old Brazilian national, described the scene as “emotional” and “really beautiful,” adding that seeing the pope in person, even in death, was deeply moving. “He seems more like an angel than a person lying there.”
As part of Pope Francis’ wish to simplify papal funeral traditions, he is lying in state in an open wooden coffin, foregoing the traditional use of three coffins made from cypress, lead, and oak.
The public viewing began at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and will continue until midnight. On Thursday and Friday, the basilica will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. Authorities have stated that anyone already in line at closing time will be allowed to remain and pass through overnight.
Earlier in the day, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who serves as camerlengo, led a brief service before the procession. “Let us thank the Lord for countless gifts that he bestowed on the Christian people through His servant Pope Francis,” he said.
The funeral Mass is scheduled to take place in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, six days after Francis’ death. A large turnout is expected, with Vatican officials anticipating as many as 250,000 mourners, including several world leaders.
Confirmed attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
