Overview

• The public lying in state for Pope Francis ended Friday evening, drawing approximately 250,000 visitors over three days.
• St. Peter's Basilica extended its hours, including staying open overnight, to accommodate the overwhelming number of mourners.
• French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were among the dignitaries who paid their respects on the final day.
• The Vatican is now focused on preparations for Saturday’s state funeral in St. Peter's Square, which will be attended by global leaders.
• After the funeral, Pope Francis’s coffin will be transported through Rome to Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, honoring his request for a modest interment outside Vatican walls.