Besides royalty and heads of state from all over the world, hundreds of thousands of Catholics are also present in the city to bid farewell to the Pope.
A guard in the Swiss Guard, known for their colorful uniforms, described the coming days earlier in the week to the news agency AFP as "very difficult".
And judging by the security measures, he is not alone in that opinion. Fighter jets are on standby and on the rooftops along the street leading up to St. Peter's Square, the police have positioned snipers. Furthermore, the airspace over Rome is closed for 24 hours, with the exception of the police's own helicopters that are constantly hovering over the city.
Strict Controls
The area around St. Peter's Church is subject to strict security checks, similar to those at airports, which visitors must pass.
Thousands of police officers are on duty to escort the around 150 official representatives who will attend the funeral, and guard St. Peter's Square. The authorities have also placed over 2,000 volunteer workers to maintain order and guide visitors.
In addition, nurses, doctors, and ambulances are on standby in the area.
Jubilee Attracts More
A spokesperson for Italian civil defense says they expect at least a few hundred thousand visitors, and that they are ready with more volunteers if needed.
The previous Pope's funeral in 2023 attracted a crowd of over 200,000 people. But 2025 is a Christian jubilee year, and therefore even more visitors are expected to attend the funeral.
