Nearly 130,000 people bid farewell to Pope Francis in Rome

Nearly 130,000 people have visited St Peter's Basilica since Wednesday to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, the Holy See press service said.

Before the coffin is closed on Friday evening, the pontiff's face will be covered with a white silk veil and sprinkled with holy water. Francis has somewhat simplified his funeral rites by breaking with the tradition of three coffins. Instead, he asked to be buried in a more modest wooden coffin. Still, his coffin will have a zinc lid for hygienic reasons, the Vatican explained. The lid will bear a cross, the papal coat of arms and his name.

Francis expressed his wish to be buried in his favourite church, Rome's papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where seven pontiffs had previously been buried.

The funeral will take place on April 26. The ceremony will be attended by heads of state and government, members of the royal families and representatives of various churches.

Unprecedented security measures are in place in Rome, involving some 11 000 police and soldiers. As the Italian capital hosts the Jubilee Year 2025 this year, an influx of visitors and pilgrims is expected, with many complaining of rising apartment rental prices. Airlines have also increased their fares. The price of a direct flight from Argentina, Francis' home country, has tripled as a result, La Repubblica newspaper reported. The price of flights from Latin America with connections at European airports has also increased.

TASS/gnews.cz