Gladness Gideon
St. Peter’s Basilica became a solemn sea of reverence and remembrance on Thursday as tens of thousands of mourners continued to file past the body of Pope Francis, a pontiff remembered as the voice of the voiceless and a shepherd of the margins.
Over 48,600 people had paid their respects by Thursday morning alone, with queues stretching far beyond the famed colonnades of St. Peter’s Square. Originally scheduled to close at midnight, the basilica remained open until 5:30 a.m. to accommodate the flood of visitors — a rare move that underscored the global outpouring of love and loss.
The 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke, spent 12 transformative years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, using his papacy to champion the poor, speak truth to power, and push for reforms that unsettled the establishment but endeared him to millions.
“He was the father of the invisible,” said Amerigo Iacovacci, an 82-year-old Roman who waited patiently to enter the basilica. “I came here because of the great faith that unites me with Pope Francis.”
Francis’s body lay in a simple red-lined wooden coffin beneath the altar of St. Peter’s, dressed in papal vestments, a white mitre on his head, and a rosary clasped in his hands. Despite strict time limits for each mourner, many paused to snap a quick photo or cross themselves in silent tribute.
Among the pilgrims was Federico Rueda, a 46-year-old Argentine, proudly clad in his national football team’s jersey. “It was worth missing everything else to say goodbye to an Argentine — a very worthy pope,” he said.
Leobardo Guevara, 24, arrived draped in Mexico’s flag. “I felt a sense of peace as I walked past,” he whispered. “He belonged to the world, not just the Church.”
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Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, became the first pope from the Americas in 2013. His health had been failing in recent months, with the Vatican confirming he was under strict medical rest following a prolonged hospitalization for pneumonia. Yet, just a day before his death, he made one last appearance at Easter Sunday Mass, greeting the faithful from the popemobile with his signature warmth.
As tributes poured in, Italy prepared a massive security operation ahead of Saturday’s state funeral, which is expected to draw global dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of mourners. Confirmed attendees include Argentine President Javier Milei, Britain’s Prince William, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Russia, in a rare gesture, will send its culture minister.
The Vatican has announced that after the funeral, Francis’s body will be taken to the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — his favourite church in Rome — before being laid to rest in a simple ground tomb marked only by the name Franciscus.
The traditional nine days of mourning, or novemdiales, will begin on Saturday and conclude on May 4. Meanwhile, the College of Cardinals will soon begin preparations for a conclave to elect his successor, expected to commence between May 6 and 11. Only cardinals under the age of 80 — currently 135 — will be eligible to vote.
While the world prepares for what comes next, for many, Pope Francis’s death is not just the end of a papacy but the passing of a moral force.
“He reminded us that faith without love is empty,” said Guevara. “And that even the most powerful must kneel to serve.”