Last mourners line up to pay their respects to Pope Francis as three days of public viewing ends

(25 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vatican City - 25 April 2025
1. Various of last mourners lining up to pay their respects to Pope Francis inside St. Peter's Basilica
2. Wide of queue inside St. Peter's Basilica
3. Various of mourners passing by Francis' coffin
4. Mid of mourners walking
5. Various of Jubilee volunteers lining up as last mourners to pay their respects to Francis
6. Various of last mourners leaving St. Peter's Basilica
7. Various of Jubilee volunteers leaving the Basilica and walking in St. Peter's Square
8. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Marco Inchiso, Jubilee of Teenagers volunteer from Milan:
"As volunteers, we rightly did this service for others, to allow others (to see Pope Francis), and I think it is right that we wait until the end. Just like when I'm camping with the kids and I'm the last to eat, here too, as a service, it is right that we go too, but it is right that we let the others go first."
9. Various of people walking in St. Peter's Square as they leave St. Peter's Basilica
10. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Angele Bilegue, nun:
"I went for the third time because I had already seen him on Tuesday in Santa Marta, where I spent six hours in front of him. He was my friend, so I went one last time to say goodbye. I cried."
11. Various of people leaving St. Peter's Basilica after paying their respects to Francis as last mourners
12. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Francesca Stagno, faithful:
"Of course, many people were unable to enter due to security issues. But I think it was worth the long wait. It was hot and sunny, and very warm. I feel sorry for all those who were unable to say their final goodbyes. I'm sorry. We will miss this pope very much."
13. Various of St. Peter's Basilica
STORYLINE:
The last mourners made their way out of St. Peter's Basilica on Friday after paying their respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

More than 250,000 people passed by Francis' coffin over three days of public viewing by ordinary mourners and statesmen alike that ended Friday, the eve of his state funeral in St. Peter's Square and burial in a basilica outside the Vatican's walls.

"I went for the third time," said nun Angele Bilegue.

"He was my friend, so I went one last time to say goodbye," she added.

Tens of thousands of mourners waited hours in line to bid farewell to Francis, who died Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88.

A higher-than-expected turnout prompted the Vatican to extend the basilica's opening hours overnight.

"I think it was worth the long wait. It was hot and sunny, and very warm," said faithful Francesca Stagno.

"I feel sorry for all those who were unable to say their final goodbyes," she added.

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, along with royalty, were set to converge for the funeral on Saturday.

The Vatican said that 164 delegations are confirmed, including 54 heads of state and 12 reigning sovereigns.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also attend the funeral, was among those who made it in time to pay last respects to the pope.

AP video shot by: Silvia Stellacci

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