Almost 130,000 individuals around the globe have come to view Pope Francis’s body as the Vatican finalizes arrangements for his funeral scheduled for Saturday, an occasion expected to be graced by 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.
St. Peter’s Basilica closed at 2:30 AM on Friday and reopened three hours later to welcome the last of the large crowds of mourners who patiently stood in line to pay their respects to Francis, who passed away at 88 on Monday following a stroke. The coffin will be sealed during a ceremony attended by senior cardinals at 8 PM.
Many of the dignitaries attending the funeral, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will arrive in Rome on Friday.
Additionally, at least 130 foreign delegations are making their way to the Italian capital, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the Prince of Wales.
“The State of Israel extends its heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Church and the global Catholic community on the death of Pope Francis,” Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X. “May he rest in peace.”
While Israel will not send a senior official to the funeral, its ambassador in Rome will be present.
The funeral necessitates a vast and intricate security operation in the Vatican and Rome, involving thousands of Italian police and military personnel, along with the Vatican’s Swiss Guards, recognized as the smallest army worldwide. In St. Peter’s Square, soldiers are equipped with weapons capable of neutralizing drones, and rooftop snipers and fighter jets are on standby. 
