Pilgrims begin to queue 12 hours before the funeral of Pope Francis

They are the first in the row to enter the Plaza de San Pedro and participate in the Mass of Pope Francis. They will spend there all night, because they arrived from 9:30 pm (Rome time).

There is great expectation among the faithful for the mass of Pope Francis, scheduled for this Saturday (26) at 9:45 am from Friday night (25) many pilgrims have begun to arrive who already occupy the first places of the tail, demonstrating their love and their desire to present their last respect for the Pontiff. There are people from Spain, Portugal, Argentina and several countries in Africa and Latin America.

The ceremony, which promises to gather authorities and people from different countries, will be a solemn moment of farewell and prayer.

Sitting on the sidewalk near the Basilica of San Pedro, Ismael is one of those who intend to “camp” during the early morning to be present at this historical moment. He told how, after many years, Pope Francis made him return to the Catholic Church.

“I spent 20 years out of the church and 5 years ago I returned thanks to Pope Francis, for the message that speaks of opening, reception. I am very grateful for being back at home,” he said when he shows his backpack with an image of the Pope and the words: “In the church we all fit, all, all.” Another message said: “I returned to church thanks to you.”

Delia, Ismael’s friend, who was sitting beside her, also wanted to highlight how important the figure of Pope Francis was: “I, thanks to him, have renewed my faith.”

Among the first in the tail there were also women from El Salvador, who reside in Milan. Nadia wanted to accompany her friend Ana on a pilgrimage to Rome to pass through the Holy Gate of this 2025 jubilee, but were surprised by the death of the Pope in the middle of Easter.

“We did not expect the death of the Pope to happen and at least at the moment when death expires.

Ana, who made her first communion last year, keeps in her heart a deep gratitude to the Holy Father.

“I came because I felt it was a personal commitment, because I moved away from the church, but with what the Pope has done, I really returned and last year I made my first communion,” he said.

A group of disciple African nuns from the Sacred Heart were also among the first in the tail on Friday night.

Despite the tiredness, the atmosphere in the surroundings of the basilica is animated and pious, with faithful willing to remain awake all night to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

Some pray, others sing songs and share messages of hope while waiting for the beginning of the ceremony in the morning. For them, participating in this historical moment is a gesture of love and devotion, a way of giving their last respect to the spiritual father who has inspired believers and non -believers around the world.