About 150,000 people have passed before the coffin papa Francisco In the Vatican Basilica to say goodbye, during the last three days and until noon this Friday, the eve of his funeral.
The spokesman of the Holy See, Matteo Bruniconfirmed the figure until 12.00 local time (6:00 Chile’s time).
The burning chapel of the Argentine Pontiff, who died last Monday at 88, will remain open until 19:00 local time (13:00 Chile) this afternoon, and then proceed to the coffin closure ceremony before its solemn funeralon Saturday morning.
The Italian authorities foresee the presence of 200,000 people in the funeral in the Plaza de San Pedro, in addition to 130 delegations of countries, with heads of state such as the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and a dozen reigning sovereign, including the kings of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia.
The Italian Civil Protection has launched a message to report the closure of the Vatican Square from 5:00 p.m. local time (13:00 Chile).
The rite of the coffin closure will take place later and will be private.
After Saturday’s funeral, Francisco’s body will be carried by a funeral procession crossing all Rome to the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, where he decided to rest for being very devout of the Virgin ‘Salus Populi Romani’.
-His sepulcher, in fact, has been prepared next to the chapel that houses that Marian icon and will consist of a simple marble slab on the ground with a single inscription, ‘Francisits pontifical name in Latin.
On the wall there will also be a reproduction of its pectoral cross, in silver and with the good shepherd.
A total of 149 cardinals of the total of the 252 that make up the Cardinal College have already arrived in Rome, although only 133 will enter the conclave to choose successor for being less than 80 years old, a must.
The cardinals who will participate in the funeral tomorrow will visit the tomb of the Argentine Pope on Sunday.
The funeral also mark the beginning of the ‘novelty’, The nine -day period of mourning in the Vatican for the death of the pontiff.
Regarding the conclave, the Vatican legislation establishes that it must be started within a maximum period of 20 days after the death of the Pope, which occurred on April 21.
That is why the cardinals are expected to be locked in the Sistine Chapel between May 5, when mourning ends, and on the 10th, when the 20 -day deadline is fulfilled.
The Sistine chapel He has announced its closure as of April 28 to prepare for the conclave.
