Pope Francis Lying in State: Final Day and Funeral Preparations in Vatican City

Final Public Viewing

• 😔 Thousands of mourners are lining up for the final hours of Pope Francis's lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica.
• ⏰ The ceremonial closing of the coffin is scheduled for around 2 p.m. Eastern time, with the funeral to follow just over 12 hours later.
• 🌍 The Vatican is preparing for the eyes of the world, with an estimated 200,000 people expected to attend the funeral.

Notable Attendees and Tributes

• 🇺🇸 President Trump and the First Lady are en route to Rome to attend the funeral, with Trump recalling the Pope as a "good man" who "loved the world."
• 🇺🇸 Former President Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, President Zelensky, and Prince William are also expected to attend.
• 🌟 Cardinal Dolan is among the over 100 individuals who have arrived for daily meetings, reflecting the global significance of the event.

Funeral and Succession Plans

• ⚰️ The funeral ceremony will be presided over by the dean of the college of cardinals.
• 🕊️ Following the funeral, cardinals will commence the silent conclave to elect the next Pope.
• 🪦 The Vatican has released the first photo of the Pope's future tombstone, made of marble and inscribed simply with "Franciscus."

Security and Public Viewing

• 👮 Security has been increased in St. Peter's Square as crowds swell, with officials concerned about crowd control.
• 📺 Massive screens are set up across Rome and Vatican City to accommodate the large number of people who will be watching the funeral proceedings.
• 🚶 Over the past three days, hundreds of thousands have visited St. Peter's Basilica for a final glimpse of Pope Francis.