Catholic faithful paying their final respects to Pope Francis as he lies in state at St Peter’s Basilica have expressed outrage at fellow mourners taking selfies with the late pontiff’s open casket.
The Vatican kept St Peter’s Basilica open nearly all night on Wednesday after more than 50,000 people filed past the late Pope’s coffin to pay their respects in the first 12 hours of public viewing.
But a number of mourners criticised the “disrespectful behaviour” of those taking selfies next to the casket, with a Vatican source telling the MailOnline: “It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there’s little else that can be done.”
World leaders, cardinals and crowds of pilgrims are expected to attend the funeral itself, which will be held at 10am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square.
The Prince of Wales will join the likes of Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky to pay their respects to the pontiff, who died aged 88 on Monday.
Watch: JD Vance addresses being one of last people to meet Pope Francis
Mourners criticise people taking selfies alongside late Pope’s coffin
Mourners have criticised fellow visitors to St Peter’s Basilica for using their phones to take selfies alongside the body of the late Pope as he lies in state.
Janine Venables, a 53-year-old from Pontypridd told the MailOnline: “What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin. I did think that was a bit in poor taste and I’m surprised no one stopped them.”
Another visitor was reported as complaining that people had been “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying their respects properly, adding that it was “sad to see such disrespectful behaviour”.
The outlet cited a Vatican source as saying: “It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there’s little else that can be done.”
Pope Francis’ doctor shares late pontiff’s last regret
In an interview with Repubblica, Pope Francis’s doctor Sergio Alfieri said the late pontiff had shared one final regret with him.
While he was happy to have visited the prisoners on April 17, he wished he had been able to perform a foot-washing ritual for the Church’s celebration of Holy Thursday.
“He regretted he could not wash the feet of the prisoners,” said the doctor. “‘This time I couldn’t do it’ was the last thing he said to me.”
Irish postal services offers to send cards to the Vatican for free
Ireland’s postal service is offering to send Mass or sympathy cards to the Vatican for free for people who wish to pay their respects to Pope Francis.
Post offices in Ireland have received queries from the public looking for advice on what was the correct address and stamp to use. In response, An Post said it would offer the service for free and send cards to the Vatican from Ireland in one batch in three weeks’ time.
An Post said: “Cards may be posted to the following PO Box for free until May 14 and An Post will ensure they are delivered directly to the Vatican: ‘Cards to the Vatican, PO Box 13812, FREEPOST, Dublin 1’.”
Full report: Doctor reveals details of Pope Francis’s final moments
The head of Pope Francis’s medical team has revealed new details about the pontiff’s final moments.
The 88-year-old died quickly on the morning of Easter Monday, Dr Sergio Alfieri, who oversaw the Pope’s treatment for pneumonia earlier this year at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said in interviews published on Thursday.
Francis died without undue suffering and medical intervention could not have saved him, Dr Alfieri said.
Joshua McElwee has the full report:
More than 50,000 pay respects to Pope in first 12 hours of public viewing, Vatican says
More than 50,000 people paid their respects to the late Pope during the first 12 hours of public viewing as he lies in state in St Peter’s Basilica, according to the latest figures from the Vatican.
Public viewing began at 11am on Wednesday, with the basilica remaining open all night and closing for just one hour before viewing resumed at 7am on Thursday due to the vast number of mourners who gathered to pay their respects.
Pope Francis’ coffin to be sealed in rite on Friday
Pope Francis’ coffin is due to be sealed in rite on Friday evening, in a ceremony presided over by cardinal Kevin Farrell.
The liturgical Rite of Sealing will be attended by several cardinals and Holy See officials, according to the Vatican News website, ahead of the late pontiff’s funeral on Saturday.
The rite will mark the end of public viewing, with tens of thousands having already flocked to witness the late Pope lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis died quickly and without suffering undue pain, says his doctor
Pope Francis died quickly on Monday morning from an unexpected stroke and did not suffering undue pain, the head of his medical team has said.
Sergio Alfieri, a physician at Rome’s Gemelli hospital who oversaw the pope’s treatment there during a five-week stay when Francis was fighting double pneumonia earlier this year, said there was nothing that doctors could have done to save his life, in interviews published this morning.
Dr Alfieri told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that he arrived at the Vatican 20 minutes after receiving a phone call at 5:30am local time on Monday, adding: “I entered his rooms and he had his eyes open. I ascertained that there were no respiratory problems. And then I tried to call his name, but he did not respond to me.”
“In that moment I knew there was nothing more to do,” said Dr Alfieri. “He was in a coma.”
In a separate interview with La Repubblica, Dr Alfieri said some officials who were present with the pope suggested moving him immediately back to the hospital. “He would have died on the way,” said the doctor. “Doing a CT scan we would have had a more exact diagnosis, but nothing more.
“It was one of those strokes that, in an hour, carries you away.”
Scotland’s first minister to attend Pope’s funeral
Scotland’s first minister John Swinney will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
The SNP leader said: “His Holiness Pope Francis was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation who had a natural ability to connect with people of all ages, nationalities and beliefs.
“On behalf of the people of Scotland, I am deeply honoured to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome to express my sorrow, thanks and deep respect for the compassion, assurance and hope that he brought to so many.”
Justin Welby: The Pope I knew supported me even at my lowest hour
In an exclusive piece for Independent Voices, former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby recalled his meetings with Pope Francis – and revealed how he received a surprise call moments after he was forced to resign in November. He writes:
I will never forget the first time I met the Pope in 2013.
I had never met a pope before and was on edge. The Vatican is designed to overwhelm visitors with power. We walk through long corridors to his office, a man in an exquisitely tailored tailcoat leading us; Swiss Guards in their full uniforms salute as we pass.
The wall paintings are beyond description; you could do a Renaissance art course just in the rooms we go through. I am taken into the meeting, with my colleagues, cameras clicking, TV present. It is surreal. The others are ushered out and we sit on either side of a desk.
“I am senior to you,” he says, with a level look. I feel a sense of disappointment: I did not think he was like that. “Indeed you are, Your Holiness…” I begin.
He interrupts, smiling, “by three days”. He was inaugurated that much before me: in March, earlier that year. We both laugh and there are the beginnings of a friendship.
Read more details here:
Source: independent.co.uk