Pope Francis's Public Viewing: Thousands Pay Respects at St. Peter's Basilica

Public Viewing for Pope Francis

• 🇻🇦 Pope Francis's open coffin lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica, allowing the public to pay their respects.
• ⏱️ The public viewing began early in the morning, with long lines of faithful and mourners stretching throughout Vatican City.
• 🌍 People from all over the world, including those from Peru and Miami, traveled to attend, with some having anticipated seeing the Pope alive.

Attendance and Scale

• 👥 An estimated 25,000 people had already passed by the coffin by the time the viewing had been underway for some time.
• 📰 The event drew significant media attention, with 4,000 members of the media seeking credentials to cover the week's events.
• ⏳ The Vatican planned to keep the Basilica open for as long as necessary to accommodate everyone in line, with many expecting to wait for hours.

Key Figures and Events

• 🇺🇸 New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan was among those who paid their respects, offering prayers for Pope Francis.
• 🗓️ The funeral for Pope Francis is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• 🕊️ The procession of Pope Francis's simple wooden coffin into St. Peter's Basilica was escorted by the papal Swiss Guard and accompanied by cardinals.

Security and Conclave

• 🚨 Italy implemented a comprehensive security plan, including patrols and drones, to manage the large crowds and events.
• 🤝 Cardinals met again, but no major announcements or timelines for the upcoming conclave were made.
• 📺 ABC News will provide special coverage of the events celebrating Pope Francis, known as "the people's pope."