Vatican City: The global community has come together to honour the memory of Pope Francis, the Supreme Head of the Catholic Church, who has passed away.
The funeral for Pope Francis will be held today, with the ceremony set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Preparations for the funeral have been completed, and dignitaries from around the world are gathering to pay their final respects. Among them are Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Irish President Michael D. Higgins, who visited St. Peter’s Basilica to offer their tributes.
President Murmu, accompanied by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and George Kurien, paid her respects during a public viewing at St. Peter’s Basilica. The president and the ministers are also scheduled to attend the funeral service.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of faithful continue to flock to St. Peter’s Basilica to bid farewell to the late pontiff. Representatives from 130 nations have arrived in Rome to join in the tributes, and 149 cardinals from the College of Cardinals, which has over 250 members, are currently present at the Vatican.
While public visitation officially ended at 5:00 p.m. local time last night, authorities extended access for those queuing in St. Peter’s Square due to the overwhelming turnout. Approximately 200,000 people are expected to gather in Vatican City for the funeral. Security measures have been significantly heightened to manage the large crowds.
Following the Holy Mass, in accordance with Pope Francis’ wishes, his body will be taken in a mourning procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major).
India Observes National Mourning
India has declared a day of national mourning on Saturday, April 26, coinciding with the Pope’s funeral. On this day, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government buildings across the country, and no official celebrations or events will take place.
The Government of India had earlier announced three days of official mourning to honour Pope Francis, with two days already observed on April 22 and 23, and the final day of mourning scheduled for the day of the funeral.
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