Following the funeral of Pope Francis, his tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome was opened to the public on Sunday. World leaders and hundreds of thousands of mourners had attended the funeral the previous day.
Catholic devotees are passing by the unadorned white tomb within St. Mary Major Basilica, many making the sign of the cross or taking photos with their phones. Ushers are present to manage the crowds who have come to see the tomb, resulting in a long queue outside the basilica. The opening occurred on the second day of the nine-day mourning period for Francis, after which a conclave will convene to select the next pope.
A single white rose, accompanied with a tag that reads “Franciscus” – the Latin version of the pope’s name – adorns the tomb. The tomb is illuminated by a warm light, with a replica of the late pope’s pectoral cross displayed on the wall above.
According to SkyTV, the estimated wait time is approximately one hour. Some visitors arrived before 7 a.m., the time of the tomb’s opening, to gain early access.
An estimated 200,000 individuals participated in a special Mass held at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday. The Mass was conducted by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.
Parolin, a close associate of Francis, delivered a highly anticipated homily. Considered the second-highest authority in the Vatican, he is among the potential candidates for the papacy.
“The shepherd, Pope Francis, whom the Lord entrusted to his people, has concluded his earthly journey,” Parolin stated in his homily. “The sorrow of his departure, the sadness that overwhelms us, the inner turmoil, the sense of disorientation – we are experiencing all of this, akin to the apostles mourning the death of Jesus. Yet, the Gospel teaches us that in these moments of darkness, the Lord approaches us with the light of the resurrection, illuminating our hearts.”
Parolin emphasized that the late Argentinian pope placed a strong emphasis on God’s mercy.
“He reminded us that ‘mercy’ is the very essence of God, and therefore, there are no limits to his merciful love, which seeks to uplift and transform us. It is crucial to embrace this principle, which Pope Francis emphasized so greatly, as a precious treasure. And – if I may – our affection for him, which is evident during this time, should not remain a fleeting emotion; we must embrace his legacy and integrate it into our lives, opening ourselves to God’s mercy and extending mercy to one another,” Parolin said. “Mercy leads us back to the heart of faith.”
Parolin further added, “Only mercy can heal and create a new world, extinguishing the fires of distrust, hatred, and violence: this is the profound lesson imparted by Pope Francis.”
The attendees included many young people who had initially traveled to Rome for the planned canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, during special holy days for teenagers.
Approximately 80,000 young people had registered for the Jubilee. Numerous youth groups, some wearing scouting uniforms, attended Francis’ funeral on Saturday and subsequently filled St. Peter’s Square again for the special Mass on Sunday.
“The joy of Easter, which sustains us in this time of trial and sadness, is almost tangible in this square today; it is evident, above all, on your faces, dear children and young people who have come from all over the world to celebrate the Jubilee,” Parolin remarked. “You come from so many places: from all the dioceses of Italy, from Europe, from the United States to Latin America, from Africa to Asia, from the United Arab Emirates… With you here, the whole world is truly present!”
The date for the conclave has not yet been determined, but it is anticipated to commence between May 5 and May 10.
Pope Francis selected his burial site in St. Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his “humble, simple and essential” life, according to the archbishop who oversees the basilica.
Cardinals who have arrived in Rome for Francis’ funeral will be holding regular meetings this week in advance of the conclave, as they begin to strategize the future direction of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
The cardinals are scheduled to visit Francis’ tomb for prayer at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Italian media outlets reported that former President Joe Biden held a private meeting with Parolin on Saturday. The two previously met in 2015, when Biden sought solace from the cardinal following the death of his son, Beau.
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