Thousands of pilgrims have flocked to St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April at 88. The basilica remained open throughout the night to accommodate the large crowd, with over 48,600 people visiting between 11:00 a.m. on 24 April and 8:30 a.m. on 25 April.
Despite the basilica’s scheduled closure at midnight, it stayed open until 5:30 a.m. due to the overwhelming response. The Vatican allowed only a brief hour-and-a-half closure for cleaning, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., before reopening the doors to the faithful. Pilgrims from around the world have been waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father’s body.
Today, April 25, will be the last day for the faithful to bid farewell to Pope Francis. The basilica will close at 7:00 p.m., and an hour later, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Camerlengo, will preside over the private rite of closing the coffin. Following the funeral Mass on 26 April, Pope Francis’s coffin will be escorted to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial.
The visitation coincides with the Jubilee of Adolescents in Rome, which expects around 70,000 participants. The entrance to the basilica has been organized into three rows, with a central row reserved for pilgrims participating in the Jubilee of Hope. The massive turnout is a testament to the impact of Pope Francis on the faithful worldwide.