Who are the Swiss Guards watching over Pope Francis’s lying in state?

25 avril 2025 à 14:13

They date back to the 16th century when mercenaries first served Pope Julius II and form the world’s smallest army

With their feathered helmets, ruffled collars and coloured, puffed-sleeve uniforms, the Vatican Swiss Guards are often likened by curious visitors to medieval court jesters.

But appearances can be deceiving. The world’s smallest army, whose primary role is to protect the pope, has been rigorously trained and with no living pontiff to protect right now will join the huge security operation involving specialist Italian police units and the military given the task of keeping watch over Vatican City and Rome during the funeral of Pope Francis and the subsequent conclave.

Santa Maria Maggiore: why Pope Francis decided ‘this is my place’ to be buried

The Guardian

Par :Angela Giuffrida in Rome

25 avril 2025 à 12:08

The pontiff shunned fanfare by picking a small niche in the basilica he visited more than 100 times during his papacy

As a priest, and then cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio would always call into Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), one of the four papal basilicas in Rome, during his regular visits to the Italian capital.

The fourth-century basilica with its distinctive bell tower is perched on one of Rome’s seven ancient hills in Esquilino, a neighbourhood that lies between the Colosseum and Termini train station, which during the Roman empire served as a burial ground for slaves.

Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders head to Rome

The Guardian

Par :Angela Giuffrida in Rome

25 avril 2025 à 14:43

More than 150,000 mourners have queued for hours to pay respects to pontiff before coffin is sealed on Friday

More than 150,000 people from all over the world have viewed Pope Francis’s body as the Vatican makes the final preparations for his funeral on Saturday, an event that will be attended by 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.

St Peter’s Basilica closed at 2.30am on Friday and reopened three hours later to accommodate the last of the huge crowds of mourners who had waited patiently to pay their respects to Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Monday after a stroke. The basilica is scheduled to close at 7pm and the pope’s coffin will be sealed at 8pm in a private ceremony attended by senior cardinals.

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