Update From The Funeral Of Pope Francis

Huge crowds gathered at St Peter’s Basilica to bid a final farewell to the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church; Pope Francis, alongside a host of world leaders and dignitaries.

The funeral of Pope Francis began with his coffin carried from St Peter’s Basilica to the Square.
An estimated 200,000 are attending the funeral at St Peter’s from all over the world while millions are watching online.

Along with world leaders, the crowd includes the homeless, migrants refugees, and some prisoners, as Pope Francis often visited jails in Italy, sometimes washing the feet of inmates as a mark of humility.

There are at least 4,000 police officers on duty as the funeral takes place and at least 3,000 volunteers are helping those who have come to pay their respects.

Pope Francis’s funeral mass starts with the entrance antiphon. This is a selection of psalm verses or scripture passages that are traditionally sung or recited.

The “entrance antiphon” was taken from Psalm 64, verses 2-5. “Praise is due to you in Zion, O God. To you we pay our vows in Jerusalem,” it began.

Pope Francis’s funeral mass includes a reading from the Acts of the Apostles read by Kielce Gussie, a journalist from Vatican News. The second reading comes from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.

“Brothers and sisters, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

The solemn liturgy was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. The funeral mass is also con-celebrated by 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests con-celebrating in the square.

One prayer at the Mass will include petitions to God for all people and nations “to persevere in seeking the path of peace”.

Pope Francis’ wooden coffin was carried into St Peter’s Square. Applause rang out as the wooden coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was brought out of St Peter’s Basilica and into the sun-filled square by white-gloved, black-suited pallbearers.

Bells tolled as the last of leaders from more than 150 countries took their places.

Thousands of ordinary mourners hurried toward the Vatican in the early hours. Many camped out to try and secure spots at the front of the crowd for the ceremony.

“We have been waiting all night,” said Spanish pilgrim Maria Fierro. “Accompanying (Francis) in his last moments is very emotional.”

Mary James, a Franciscan nun, also waited overnight. “I was up the whole night,” she said. “We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple.”

As the funeral service comes to an end, Cardinal Re gives the final commendation, the prayer in which Francis’ soul is entrusted to God, and seeks consolation for the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.

“O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our Bishops, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy forever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth.”

Re then sprinkles the coffin with holy water and incense.

At the end of the Mass, the choir will sing in Latin: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.”

The procession route with Pope Francis’ coffin will move at a walking pace through the heart of Rome after the funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica. It will travel from around 4 miles from St. Peter’s Square to his final resting place in Santa Maria Major, a church he visited 125 times, including on the first day that he was named Pope. He prayed there often.

At the basilica in the center of Rome, there will be a crowd of people, including poor people, and marginalized people, lining the steps as he enters that Basilica.

This is what Pope Francis wanted, to end the day among the people, among the marginalized communities that he cared so deeply about.

While Saturday is the first of nine official days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin soon after the funeral.

Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis’s successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5th.

May his soul continue to rest in peace, Amen.