Tens of thousands of faithful and tourists alike flocked to the Vatican after the body of Pope Francis was transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday.
While many were intrigued by the historical significance of the event, others took the opportunity to pay their respects to the late pontiff by expressing their condolences.
In most cases, people simply felt compelled to say a final goodbye.
Some of the faithful cannot hold back their tears. Violetta and Pavel are from Poland but live in London. Both were so shocked by the pontiff’s death that they immediately changed their travel plans to see him one last time.
“We booked in January and had been planning the trip for a long time. But now we have changed plans and we are sad because our plan is now cancelled,” Violetta said, distressed.
“I am very emotional, I feel like crying but I am happy to be here. It’s very emotional for me.”
Susana, travelling from Mexico, was also already in Rome with her family when she heard of Pope Francis’ death.
“I am a Christian and I feel sad because he was a great pope,” Susana said, praising Francis’ work.”
“He opened the Church to issues that other popes had not openly talked about before. He made important changes in the Church, so the news is very sad,” she explained.
‘It’s strange to be here’
“We had been planning this trip for a year and a half,” said Bettina, visiting from Germany with her family, adding that she had not made any significant changes to her travel plans since Pope Francis’ death.
“It is strange to be here. When the pope was sick, we said, ‘Let’s hope he doesn’t die’. We explained to our children what happened and what it means for the world,” Bettina told Euronews.
She and her family decided to visit St. Peter’s, aware of the historical significance of the event, but also to pay their respects to the late pontiff.
Alex is 35 years old and comes from Israel. He was already in Rome when he heard of the Pope’s death. “It is certainly very sad,” he commented.
“We had no specific plans, we just wanted to walk around. But emotionally, of course, we are upset. It is a tragic occasion, so now we have come here,” Alex added.
Some arrived in the Italian capital — which surrounds the Catholic Church’s seat and city-state — just hours before the news of Pope Francis’ passing, like Stephan and Christelle, travelling from France.
“We arrived in Rome a day before his death. We are here on holiday, as tourists, not for the Jubilee,” Christelle told Euronews.
“We bought the ticket for the (Vatican) museum a long time ago, we were here to visit and we took the opportunity to see this historic day,” she explained.
The funeral, set for Saturday, might be too crowded, the pair said.
“We won’t be attending the funeral, there will be too many people,” Stephen added.
‘I had come to Rome to try to see him one last time’
The pontiff’s death has had a significant impact on those not adhering to the Catholic Church’s rites.
“We were already planning to come to Rome and then the Pope happened to die,” Gianluca recounted, adding that he and his family, travelling from Brescia, were already planning to come to St Peter’s.
“I am not a believer, but he is still an important personality. Even as a leader representing a state. We are sad all the same,” Gianluca said.
“I was very sorry,” his wife Giovanna commented. “I had also come to Rome to try to see him, even one last time, fearing that he might be ill.”
“I hadn’t been to Rome for twenty years, this is the third time. I felt really bad, even for my daughter Noemi who will never see him,” Giovanna added.
“We came here on a trip, we loved the idea of being able to see the pope, but we missed him. We are so sad,” said Jennifer, an American on holiday with her family from Florida.
“This is the first time we are visiting here. It is so beautiful here but I miss the pope.”
