On Sunday, a massive crowd of 200,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to honor Pope Francis, one day after his funeral. The event took place on the second of nine official mourning days for the Catholic Church, following the pope’s passing on April 21. The crowd, mostly young people wearing colorful T-shirts and scouting uniforms, came from across Italy and several other countries. Instead of the original planned ceremony to proclaim the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation, they now gathered to honor Pope Francis, who led the global Catholic community for 12 years.
The Gathering in St. Peter’s Square
The atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square was full of energy as the youth shouted “viva Francesco” and “il gioventu del papa,” meaning “long live Francis” and “the pope’s youth.” The event took place on what was supposed to be the day for a ceremony honoring Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who died of leukemia in 2006. Acutis was to be declared the first saint from the millennial generation, but the ceremony was postponed following Pope Francis’ death.
Samuele Arregetti, an 18-year-old from Bergamo, Italy, expressed his mixed emotions. “Even though we had to change plans, it’s a joy to remember Francis,” he said. “We are very sad about his passing, but we’re also happy to think of him in Heaven.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin Leads the Service
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, led the Mass. In his brief sermon, Parolin emphasized Francis’ love for young people, saying the pope would have wanted to be among them. He would have wanted to meet them, look into their eyes, and pass through the crowd to greet them.
Although the ceremony was focused on honoring the late pope, Parolin did not offer much in terms of his vision for the future of the Church. His message, while powerful, was short, lasting only about 11 minutes, and centered on the core themes of Francis’ papacy.
The Pope’s Tomb
On the morning of Sunday, April 22, visitors began flocking to Pope Francis’ tomb at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The tomb is marked with the simple inscription “Franciscus” in Latin. Thousands of people waited in long lines to pay their respects, with police urging them to keep moving to maintain the flow of visitors.
The visitations to the pope’s tomb were orderly, but there was a palpable sense of sadness and reverence among the crowd. The church had set up measures to ensure that everyone had a chance to visit the tomb, but the lines were long and visitors were asked to keep their time short.
What’s Next for the Catholic Church?
As the Catholic Church continues its period of mourning, attention now turns to who will succeed Pope Francis. The process to elect a new pope will take place in a secretive conclave. The conclave is expected to begin no earlier than May 6, though it may take a few days longer for the cardinals to gather and discuss the future direction of the Church.
The Catholic Church is currently facing numerous challenges, including financial issues and ideological divisions. The next “general congregation” of cardinals will take place on Monday, April 23. At this meeting, the cardinals may decide when the conclave will officially start.
