Italy and the Vatican are rolling out a massive security plan as world leaders, royals, and thousands of Catholic faithful head to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral.
The funeral is set for Saturday, with cardinals arriving from across the globe for both the ceremony and the conclave—the secret voting process to elect a new pope.
Francis’ body lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, drawing tens of thousands of mourners.
“We’ve been on alert since Monday,” said a Swiss Guard member, referring to the day the 88-year-old pope passed away.
Rome is under strict security control, with fighter jets on standby and police snipers positioned on rooftops along Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square.
A 24-hour no-fly zone is already in place over the city.
World Leaders and Delegations Arriving
The funeral will host a high-profile lineup, including:
- US President Donald Trump
- France’s Emmanuel Macron
- Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky
- Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Argentina’s Javier Milei
- The kings of Belgium and Spain
- Britain’s Prince William
Between 150 and 170 delegations are expected, all requiring police escorts.
Strict Security and Crowd Control
For Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, over 10,000 law enforcement officers were deployed.
Rome’s Prefect Lamberto Giannini warned that St. Peter’s Square and surrounding areas will be under very strict controls.
Police helicopters patrol the skies, while pilgrims undergo airport-style security checks before entering the basilica.
“A few hundred police officers are on duty around the site,” an officer confirmed.
Italy’s Civil Protection Agency has deployed between 2,000 and 2,500 volunteers to assist mourners.
“It is impossible to know how many people will attend, but at least a few hundred thousand,” said agency spokesperson Pierfrancesco Demilito.
Some 500 doctors and nurses will be present, with ambulances on standby.
The funeral of Benedict XVI in 2023 drew around 200,000 people.
This year is a holy Jubilee year, meaning at least 250,000 faithful are expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral.
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