## Faithful Gather to Mourn Pope Francis as Tomb Opens
Following a funeral attended by world leaders and an estimated hundreds of thousands, the tomb of Pope Francis opened its doors to visitors at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome on Sunday. The opening marked the start of nine days of official mourning before the College of Cardinals convenes to elect his successor.
Roman Catholic faithful are paying their respects at the simple white tomb, many pausing to make the sign of the cross or capture a photograph as ushers gently guide them along the line that stretches outside the basilica. SkyTV reports an approximate wait time of one hour for visitors, with some arriving before dawn to be among the first to view the resting place when it opened at 7:00 AM.
The tomb itself features a single white rose bearing the inscription “Franciscus,” the Pope’s name in Latin. A soft light illuminates the space and highlights a reproduction of his pectoral cross displayed above.
Solemn Mass Held, Cardinal Parolin Delivers Moving Homily
Earlier on Sunday, an estimated 200,000 people attended a special Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State and a close collaborator of Pope Francis. Considered second-in-command within the Vatican and a potential candidate for the next pontificate, Parolin delivered a heartfelt homily reflecting on the late Pope’s legacy.
“The shepherd whom the Lord gave to his people, Pope Francis, has ended his earthly life and has left us,”
Parolin stated. “We are experiencing all of this—the grief at his departure, the sense of sadness that assails us, the turmoil we feel in our hearts, the sense of bewilderment—like the apostles grieving over the death of Jesus.”
Parolin underscored Pope Francis’s unwavering focus on God’s mercy. “He reminded us that ‘mercy’ is the very name of God… It is important to welcome as a precious treasure this principle on which Pope Francis insisted so much,”
he emphasized, urging attendees to embrace his teachings and extend compassion towards one another.
The Cardinal further added: “Mercy takes us back to the heart of faith. Only mercy heals and creates a new world, putting out the fires of distrust, hatred and violence: this is the great teaching of Pope Francis.”
Young People Among the Mourners
Among those gathered were many young people who had initially traveled to Rome for what was intended to be the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. Approximately 80,000 youths had registered for the Jubilee celebrations, and numerous groups, some in scouting uniforms, attended both Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday and the Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square.
“The joy of Easter, which sustains us in this time of trial and sadness, is something that can almost be touched… You come from so many places: from all of 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!”
Parolin remarked.
Looking Ahead
No official date has been set for the conclave, but it’s anticipated to begin between May 5 and May 10. Pope Francis selected his final resting place in St. Mary Major Basilica, near a revered icon of the Madonna, as a reflection of his “humble, simple, and essential” life, according to the basilica’s archbishop.
Cardinals who have gathered in Rome for the funeral will be meeting throughout the week, beginning their discussions regarding the future direction of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. On Sunday afternoon, they are scheduled to offer prayers at Pope Francis’ tomb.
Italian media reports indicate that former President Joe Biden had a private meeting with Cardinal Parolin on Saturday, recalling a previous encounter in 2015 when the cardinal offered comfort following the death of his son Beau.
