From the BBC:
“World bids farewell to Pope
who told people to 'build bridges, not walls'”
Pope Francis has been buried in
Rome after a funeral ceremony and procession attended by hundreds of thousands
of people and many heads of state. The first South American pontiff passed away
on Monday aged 88, marking the end of a 12-year pontificate. As the Italian
capital woke up to a hazy morning, teenage pilgrims, nuns and priests of all
denominations filed silently down the streets leading to the Vatican. Many of
the streets around St Peter's Basilica were closed - both to allow the flow of
visitors and for security reasons, as more than a hundred foreign dignitaries
were expected to join the funeral mass.
More than 8,000 Italian police of
different branches were out in force, as well as firefighters, medics, canine
unit handlers, volunteers, members of the armed forces and even park guards. Many
had been called in from all sides of Italy to be in Rome today - resulting in a
rather joyous blend of accents from across the country, from the Sicilian to
the Milanese. By 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) much of the square was already
full.
Jessica, 22 and from Mexico, and
Cyril, 20 and from the US, had arrived at dawn to secure a front row spot to
the funeral mass. "We never thought we'd be this close. We sacrificed a
little sleep to be here but it's worth it," said Jessica. She's a Catholic
and said her relatives in Mexico would "never believe it" when she
told them she had been at the Vatican for the Pope's funeral.
As heads of state and foreign
dignitaries took their places to the right of the altar, hundreds of
photographers in the press area on the roof of the colonnade snapped their
cameras furiously, hoping to capture a candid image of US President Donald
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose last meeting in
February gave rise to a combative exchange in the Oval Office.
But soon after, as a striking
photo of the two men sitting on two chairs inside St Peter's began to
circulate, it emerged that they had already met for around 15 minutes before
the service began. Later, Zelensky said the meeting "had potential to
become historic, if we achieve joint results". No more details were
shared, but some on social media later joked that, given the setting, the
meeting had been a "miracle".
Photos showed that UK Prime
Minister Keir Starmer, Trump, Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron had
also all met in the Vatican.
From the bright red of the
clergy's habits to the muted grey and blue of nuns' veils to the rainbow sun
hats worn by pilgrims, all morning St Peter's Square was a riot of colours
glistening in the sun. Hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned
out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, as drones and seagulls
crisscrossed over Michelangelo's dome.
Yet the voice of 91-year-old
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re rang loud and clear as he presided over the mass.
The service's structure was very similar to that of any Catholic funeral mass,
although the readings were done in many different languages and all hymns were
sung in Latin. Outside St Peter's, a crowd the Vatican later said numbered
200,000 applauded as large screens showed Zelensky take his seat. There was
also applause when the Pope's simple wooden coffin was brought out. The crowd's
applause marked some other salient moments - such as when Cardinal Re, as part
of his homily, remembered the Pope's commitment to migrants and peace. He
mentioned that the Pope's first trip had been to the Italian island of
Lampedusa, the port of arrival in Europe for many migrants who make the
perilous journey across the Mediterranean, and recalled the mass the Pope
celebrated at the US-Mexico border. "War, he said, results in the death of
people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. War always leaves
the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat
for everyone." The cardinal emphasised that Pope Francis had repeatedly
urged the world to "build bridges, not walls". "It was good to
hear that on a day when so many heads of state were on St Peter's Square,"
a woman called Maria told the BBC. She and her friend Grazia had flown in from
Sardinia especially for the funeral. "It was a message especially for
them, I think, because it's them who decide whether there's going to be war or
peace, not us... Let's hope something made it through to them." "Otherwise
them being here was just pure hypocrisy," added Grazia.
During communion, a procession of
white-clad priests made its way down St Peter's Square, carrying golden
chalices full of wafers for communion, as many in the large crowd moved forward
to receive the hosts. Soon after, Cardinal Re blessed the Pope's coffin with
holy water, before burning incense in a thurible - a symbol of cleansing - and
the basilica's bells tolled three times after the blessing of the coffin was
carried out. After some brief mingling, world leaders started making their way
out of the basilica. Their motorcades then filed out of the Vatican. Within an
hour Trump was reported to be back on Air Force One, while other leaders held
various informal meetings in Rome. Meanwhile, the Pope's coffin was carried
through Rome in a slow procession to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore for
burial.
Authorities said 140,000 had
lined the streets, clapping and waving as the hearse – a repurposed white
popemobile – crossed the Tiber river and drove past some of Rome's most
recognisable sights: the Colosseum, the Forum and the Altare della Patria national
monument on Piazza Venezia. Once the coffin reached Santa Maria Maggiore, it
was taken inside and the live broadcast ceased.
Pope Francis was buried in the
righthand side of the church, near a beloved icon of the Virgin Mary, at around
15:00.
Visitors, pilgrims and the clergy
vacated St Peter's Square quickly. Many could be seen minutes later in the
numerous cafes, restaurants and pizzerias of the historic Borgo Pio
neighbourhood nearby. Grazia from Sardinia said the funeral had made a big
impression on her. "It was wonderful to meet in a single square with
people who come from every corner of the world and to live a shared moment.
This is the legacy of the Pope," she said.
Officials said the day had
unfolded without any major incidents. "Four hundred thousand people shared
a historic and emotional moment, and thanks to everyone's commitment the day
took place in a solemn and serene way, without critical issues," said the
head of the Civil Protection, Fabio Ciciliano.
The city of Rome and the
Catholics of the world will now be preparing for the next momentous event - the
conclave, which will select the next Pope. A date has not yet been set but it
is thought it could start as early as 5 or 6 May, after the Novemdiales - the
mandatory nine days of mourning - are over. With 135 cardinals set to attend,
it will be the largest conclave in modern history and one of the most
unpredictable. Over the past few days, cardinals wandering around Rome were
hounded by journalists trying to get a steer on what the conclave might yield. After
the funeral, too, the Cardinal of Tonga Soane Patita Paini Mafi was approached
by the media as he made his way out of St Peter's Square. After a South
American pope, is it time for an Asian one, he was asked. Cardinal Mafi laughed
and pointed to the sky. "Only He knows," he said.
^ A fitting Tribute to a great Man.
^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.