Over 150,000 people have already said goodbye to the Pope on site at St. Peter's Basilica, announces the Vatican. The visitor figure is counted between 11 am on Wednesday and lunchtime on Friday, according to a spokesperson.
During the night leading up to Friday, St. Peter's Basilica remained open longer than the scheduled times for the second night in a row to allow everyone to get in. The doors were closed at 2:30 am and reopened at 5:40 am on Friday morning.
The night is the most intimate moment, the Lord always manifests himself at night, says 60-year-old Nicoletta Tomassetti, who visited St. Peter's Basilica early on Friday morning.
It was very emotional. In prayer, I asked the Pope for a few things, and I know he will give them to me, she says.
At 8 pm on Friday, the coffin will be closed in a ceremony attended by high-ranking cardinals.
The security deployment is large ahead of Saturday's funeral, including snipers positioned on rooftops and fighter jets on standby.
On Friday, many of the around 50 heads of state and ten monarchs who will attend the funeral are expected to arrive in Rome. Among them are Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, King Carl Gustav, and Queen Silvia.
In total, at least 130 foreign delegations are expected to attend the funeral. After the ceremony, the coffin will be driven at a slow pace to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where Pope Francis will be buried.
The grave can be visited from Sunday morning onwards.
