The ceremonies with a great presence of world leaders on Saturday Mark Funeral and the burial of the Pontiff, who died this week, at the age of 88, after more than a decade of papacy. The world says goodbye on Saturday (26/04) by Pope Francis, who died this week at the age of 88, after turning 12 years of papacy. The ceremonies of this Saturday include a funeral mass and will be completed with the burial.
Between Wednesday and Friday, about 250,000 faithful went to the Vatican to give his last farewell to the Pope, whose body was veiled in the Basilica of San Pietro.
Francisco was the first Jesuit and the first Catholic in the Americas to reach the guide of the Catholic Church.
At least 130 delegations, including about 50 heads of state and ten monarchs, have confirmed the presence of the funeral mass to be held in the Vatican, including Donald Trump, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Javier Milei, as well as the 6th king of King Felipe of Spain and the secretary general António Guterres.
Francis will not find his last place of eternal rest in the Basilica of San Pietro, such as the custom among the Popes, but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, near the main railway station of Rome, while he himself stipulated a will.
Throughout the week, following the guidelines manifested by Francis still in life, the Pope’s body was based in a simple wooden coffin and without papal ferruula (crucified staff), a symbol of power. He will become the first Pope in over 100 years to be buried outside the Vatican.
Francisco’s papacy in ten moments
First pontiff of the Americas, Francisco led the Catholic Church for 12 years. In just over a decade, his papacy was marked by symbolic and historical moments, such as a lava ceremony, a dangerous journey in Iraq, an empty blessing during the pandemic.
Remember ten moments of the Papacy of Francisco
More than 100 foreign delegations accompany the funeral
At least 130 foreign delegations, including about 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs in office attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday.
Among the heads of state and the government that confirmed their presence in the funeral are the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, the American Donald Trump, the British Keir Stmeerer, the Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In addition to the Argentine president, Javier Milei, of the country of origin of Pope Francis. Francisco had a complex relationship with the political world of his country of origin and avoided visiting Argentina during his papacy.
Trump, who repeatedly in conflict with Francisco because of his restrictive immigration policy, has already arrived at the Vatican, as well as the former president Joe Biden, a devoted Catholic.
Ukrainian Volodimir Zelenski, who said Francis “prayed for peace in Ukraine” is already in the Vatican. On an average weekday, the Ukrainian leader has even taken his disappearance due to the military situation of his country, but changed his mind.
The remarkable absences include Russo Vladimir Putin and Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu, who have avoided some trips abroad due to the arrest mandates issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
What is the possibility that the new Pope is African?
Nowhere in the world the Catholic Church grows faster than in Africa. According to data released by the Vatican, Africans now represent 20% of Catholics worldwide.
In this context, the appeals for an African Pope who must be elected to guide the Church have multiplied in recent years.
Conclave – a meeting of 135 cardinals in charge of electing the next pontiff – is scheduled for the beginning of May and some African names appear in the lists of possible candidates.
Behind the scenes, however, the experts are skeptical about the possibilities of the main names of the continent to be elected.
To find out more
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
