Overview
- The public viewing of Pope Francis's open casket in St. Peter's Basilica concluded Friday evening, drawing an estimated 250,000 mourners over three days.
- The coffin was sealed Friday night in a private ceremony, ahead of Saturday's funeral Mass on Petersplatz and the procession through Rome.
- Over 150 international delegations, including heads of state and religious leaders, are expected to attend the funeral services and procession.
- The six-kilometer route to Santa Maria Maggiore marks the first papal burial outside the Vatican in over a century, honoring Francis's personal wishes for humility and devotion to the church.
- Security measures in Rome include naval vessels, rooftop snipers, and airspace restrictions to protect attendees during the high-profile events.