Huge crowds may force the Vatican to keep Pope’s body on display longer
People from the UK and Ireland are among the thousands in Vatican City lining up to view the body of Pope Francis
The Vatican said it would extend viewing hours if necessary to accommodate the thousands of people lining up to see Pope Francis lying in state.
Huge crowds thronged St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, queuing for hours to see the late pontiff in his open coffin ahead of his funeral this weekend.
Waves of mourners stood patiently in line after Francis’s remains were transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, with the queue snaking its way through the square to the Holy Door of the building.
About 19,430 people had been to the basilica “to pay homage to Pope Francis”, a Vatican spokesman said on Wednesday evening, less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there, and where it will stay until Friday.
While it had been expected the basilica would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, the spokesman confirmed it could stay open longer if the crowds continued.
Among those filing past the coffin, some blessing themselves with the sign of the cross or pausing briefly in prayer, were a mother and daughter from County Clare in Ireland.
Primary school teacher Marguerite O’Leary and her daughter Ellen stood for more than five hours on Wednesday to be among the first members of the public in line.
Mrs O’Leary said she felt it was their “duty to represent the people of Ireland when we were lucky enough to be here” in the days following the Pope’s death aged 88 on Easter Monday, while her 14-year-old daughter described it as “amazing to be in there”.
Security measures have been heightened around the Vatican, with Italian police conducting foot and horse patrols in the area.
Police have been managing crowd control at various points on the approach to the square, with some checking bags, as mourners mingled with the usual tourist population.
Large crowds are expected for Saturday’s funeral in St Peter’s Square, with the Prince of Wales confirmed to be attending on the King’s behalf.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also be there, alongside other global leaders and dignitaries including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Irish premier Micheal Martin and Irish President Michael D Higgins.
In accordance with the late pope’s wishes, Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of papal burials in St Peter’s Basilica.
With PA
