The procession to St Peter’s Square
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The humble Pope Francis will be laid to rest on Saturday in what risks to become a fun fare stormed by tourists and mourners.
The solemn ceremony, be held on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, will also draw in world leaders, and will be followed by billions of television viewers around the world.
The Ugandan delegation will be led by Anita Among, the Uganda Parliament Speaker, who will represent the Head of State.
Pope Francis, who passed on aged 88 on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, has been described as a “humble pontiff” who cared more about others than himself.
Humble in death
Photographs of Francis dressed in his vestments and laid in an open coffin in The Chapel of the Casa Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy, have been released by the Vatican.
In what was an early sign of his humility, Pope Francis opted against living in the lavish Apostolic Palace, but moved into the guest house on the Vatican grounds.
Going by his last wish, he chose to be buried in a simple wooden coffin rather than the traditional triple coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
He also preferred to be will be laid to rest in his favourite church – the Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood. He will be the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
The late Pope Francis lying in state
The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903.
Pope Francis also requested to be buried ‘in the earth, simple, without particular decoration’ and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
Final service
Mourners are flocking in, in their hundreds. This followed the procession where the late Pope’s body was transported to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday.
He will lie in state until his funeral on Saturday, which will be cut short so that the basilica can be prepared for his funeral Mass. At least 200,000 people are expected to attend the outdoor service on Saturday.
To also be attended by Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from across the world, the funeral service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals.
