NY, NJ Families Witness Pope Francis's Lying in State at Vatican City

Pope Francis's Final Farewell

• 🕊️ The body of Pope Francis was moved to St. Peter's Basilica to lie in state until Friday, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday morning.
• 🌍 Leaders from around the world are expected to attend the funeral, highlighting the Pope's global significance.

Public Mourning and Global Interest

• 🚶‍♀️ Mourners from all ages and backgrounds lined up to pay their respects to the "people's pope," with lines extending out of Vatican City into Rome.
• ⏰ The Vatican announced extended hours for the public viewing period due to overwhelming interest, allowing people to continue paying respects through Friday morning.
• 🌎 Pilgrims from across the globe gathered, with many expressing a sense of awe and humility in the presence of such a large congregation.

Families on Vacation Witness History

• ✈️ The Christy family from Redbank, New Jersey, who were on vacation and had booked a Vatican tour, unexpectedly found themselves witnessing this historic moment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The experience served as a profound history lesson for their seventh-grade son, emphasizing the importance of cherishing each moment.
• 🙏 Visitors, including those not of Catholic faith, expressed deep appreciation for Pope Francis as a person, beyond his religious role.

Reflections from New York

• ⛪ Archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, paid his respects and offered prayers on behalf of the faithful.
• 📸 New York native Maline Graves, a student at Sunni News, described the moments as profound, focusing on being present in her faith rather than on her phone.
• 💬 Many shared that they appreciated the Pope as a person, even if they were not Catholic, underscoring his broad appeal.