Vatican City – Thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square on Monday to pay tribute to Pope Francis after his death that morning.
Many languages were able to hear as many people, many flowers carrying people spoke to each other in a quiet tone.
As the sun sets, prayers were kept for the late Argentine Pope, who died at the age of 88 after a stroke and heart failure.
His death came at a symbolic time. That’s because it’s the year of Jubilee, a Catholic pilgrimage that occurs every quarter century, not just Easter Monday, the day marking a revival and a new life.
Pope Francis opened the sacred door of St. Peter’s Cathedral just four months ago to mark the beginning of the Jubilee, welcoming millions of pilgrims to the Vatican.
He is inviting the world, and as Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced Monday morning, he “returned to his father’s house.”
Pope Francis “feels real”
Miguel Cofaro, a 61-year-old devout Catholic from Rome, was in St. Peter’s Square with three friends on Monday evening.
He said he felt like he had lost his grandfather – an “honest” character who had sincerely the greatest benefits of people.
“Pope Francis was in charge of the Vatican, fighting corruption and opening up more information. He felt authentic,” he said firmly.
When Cofaro finished his job, he headed to the square without any real plans. He, like many Romans, is still in shock, he said.
Jessica Hernandez, a 39-year-old hotel worker from Mexico, said that although she was not particularly religious, she grew up in a Catholic family and the news was “a powerful and upsetting shock.”
She spent most of the evening on the phone to her Mexican mother, explaining how she felt in St. Peter’s Square.
Kevin de la Rosa, a 26-year-old bar worker from Venezuela, sat watching people gather in a tightly guarded fenced area in front of the magnificent façade of St. Peter’s Cathedral.
He said he came to the Vatican out of curiosity to witness how people were reacting and experience the atmosphere on a historic day.
For de Rasa, the mood evoked memories of many childhoods in his home country, where he attended Catholic school.
Seeing how the Pope’s death moved the people of Rome, he said he helped him rediscover his respect for the church, explaining that for him the Pope was an important person who rose up for the poor.
Vatican braces for mourners around Rome, around the world
Luciano Viteno, a member of the International Red Cross, looked out over the square and coordinated the talkie of his transceiver while he communicated with 20 colleagues deployed in the area.
Approximately 12 ambulances were adjacent to the area of the square.
Viteno said Monday was mild and there was no medical emergency to handle, but he was hoping to arrive from around the world in the coming days.
He said all authorities, including police and the military, are increasing their presence in the Vatican to handle the expected increase in visitor numbers after the Pope’s death.
Hernandez said the hotel she works for has been fully booked for the next 15 days and the hotel staff have been told to prepare for overtime.
On Tuesday, she said, “Rome is changing. It’s going to be full of people. We have bookings from all over the world and it feels like everyone is coming to this city.”
For now, St. Peter’s seat is open and the Pope’s apartment is sealed.
The Cardinals University, made up of senior Catholic clergy, must choose to succeed Pope Francis, but for now, they will be in nine days of mourning at the Vatican as the Cardinals arrive from around the world. Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26th.
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