Up At Dawn For Front-row Seat To History At Francis's Funeral
Many had woken up at dawn while others slept in their cars before Catholic faithful poured into St Peter's Square from all corners of the globe on Saturday, fuelled by a desire to honour Pope Francis.
As the first rays of the day rose over the sprawling Baroque plaza, mourners rushed towards empty chairs once they had passed through metal detectors, anxious for a front-row seat to history.
Among them was Jean-Baptiste Leclezio, a 22-year-old from Lyon, who slept on the ground overnight at the seat of the Catholic Church to be among the first to enter for the funeral of Francis, who died on Monday age 88.
"We took floor mats and sleeping bags and we slept there with 400 people, a lot of young people, scouts," he told AFP.
"There were people singing all night but we managed to sleep," he said.
Australian Eloise Bird, 38, said she was tired but happy to have made it into the square after having queued up since 5:15 am with her four children.
Determined to make the most of a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" she said it had been "very hard getting in here".
"There was so much pushing. The little children were just getting squished from every side," she said.
"We know that it's not the end for him, God willing, he's going to heaven and he will live for eternity there," she said of the Argentine pontiff.
Peruvian social worker Gabriela Lazo, 41, said she and her family had arrived on Friday in Rome and "spent the whole night here in the car".
"Being at the funeral with my family and being able to hear the mass is the most beautiful thing," she said.
"We would have liked to see him in person... but thank God and him that we are here at this moment."
Many in the crowd were young pilgrims with flags and banners draped over their shoulders, as priests in ceremonial robes milled about under the majestic colonnades of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's famed square.
Individual mourners leaned against pillars, fingering rosaries and silently reciting prayers, as television crews and cameras filled terraces overlooking the square.
Security personnel admonished people for running as they rushed towards open seats, all of which were filled within an hour of the square opening at 6:00 am (0400 GMT).
Andrea Ugalde, a childcare worker from Los Angeles, said she wasted no time in buying a ticket for Rome after hearing of Francis's passing, coming "straight to the cathedral" when she arrived.
"I hope to get a seat, but (I) just want to be a part of it," said the 39-year-old.
"He brought many people together, advocated for the sick, the homeless, poor, animals, for everything," said Ugalde.
The Argentine pope, she added, was the "definition of being human."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
15 hours ago
- DW
Brazil: Eight killed, 13 injured in hot air balloon crash – DW – 06/21/2025
It is the second hot air balloon tragedy in less than a week in Brazil. Praia Grande is a popular destination for hot-air ballooning during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints. At least eight people were killed when a hot air balloon with 21 passengers caught fire in southern Brazil on Saturday. Jorginho Mello, the governor of Santa Catarina state, where the incident occurred, took to X to express his condolences. In a video, he said: "We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can." Mello said he has asked authorities to head to the municipality "to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families." Videos taken by bystanders and carried on Brazilian television showed the moment when the balloon erupted in flames above the coastal town of Praia Grande. The weather conditions were clear as the basket carrying the passengers plummeted dozens of meters to the ground in flames. Praia Grande, on the Atlantic coast, is a popular destination for hot-air ballooning in Brazil, especially during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. It is the second fatal balloon accident in the country in just a few days. Less than a week ago, a woman died during a hot air balloon ride in southeastern Sao Paulo state.
Local Germany
2 days ago
- Local Germany
The travel warnings about Germany ahead of summer 2025
In the last few weeks, the US and Canada have updated their travel advice for visitors to Germany, primarily due to concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks taking place in the country. In May, the US State Department issued a travel advisory placing Germany at Level 2: "Exercise Increased Caution." The new advice cites the persistent threat of terrorism, warning that attacks may occur with little or no warning in public spaces, including those frequented by tourists. Travellers are advised that: "Terrorist groups and lone actors remain a constant threat in Germany and Europe, attacking people in public locations with knives, small arms, rudimentary explosive devices, and vehicles...' The US has also upgraded advisories for several other European countries to Level 2, including Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK. Canada, the UK, and Australia The government of Canada updated its advice for Germany soon after the US State Department did, telling travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution," because of concerns about terrorism. Advertisement Travellers are avised that: "Terrorist attacks could occur at any time. Over the past few years, several attacks have occurred in Germany. These have resulted in many injuries and deaths. Further attacks are likely." Advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) states that 'terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Germany. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in public places visited by foreign nationals such as restaurants, markets, shopping centres, places of worship and religious sites, including synagogues, sporting and cultural events, and crowded places and public gatherings.' The website also provides a list of incidents dating back to 2019. While the recent advisories stop short of recommending that people avoid Germany, the relevant authorities in each country urge travellers to be on their guard, monitor local news, and follow instructions from local authorities. At present, the Australian government continues to advise travellers to exercise normal safety precautions in Germany, but refers to 'multiple attacks using vehicles or knives in the last year.'
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Floods Expected After Hurricane Erick Makes Landfall In Western Mexico
Hurricane Erick made landfall in the western Mexican state of Oaxaca on Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center said, having weakened to a "major" Category 3 storm that is likely to cause massive flooding and landslides. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour as it hit just east of Punta Maldonado, the NHC said in a post on social media. By 1200 GMT, Erick was moving northwest at a speed of nearly nine miles (15 kilometers) per hour, and was expected to continue making its way inland over southern Mexico through the day. Heavy rainfall was expected to cause "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain" in Oaxaca and Guerrero states, the NHC said. A "life-threatening storm surge" was expected to cause coastal flooding near where the storm made landfall. "Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate tonight or early Friday," the center's advisory added. Mexican authorities said they were also expecting heavy rain in southernmost state Chiapas. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to avoid going out and advised those living in low-lying areas or near rivers to move to shelters. In Acapulco, a major port and resort city famous for its nightlife, police with bullhorns walked the beach and drove around town warning residents and holidaymakers of the storm's arrival. Some shops boarded up their windows and operators of tourist boats brought their vessels ashore. Rainfall began in the late afternoon after a sunny day on Wednesday. About 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Acapulco, the city of Puerto Escondido and its 30,000 inhabitants braced for the hurricane's effects. Restaurants were already closed despite tourists unwilling to give up their vacations, an AFP journalist noted from the scene. "They say it's going to hit this side of the coast, so we're taking precautions to avoid having any regrets later," Adalberto Ruiz, a 55-year-old fisherman sheltering his boat, told AFP. Laura Velazquez, national coordinator of civil protection, said the government was using patrols and social media to warn people. Some 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca, and hundreds of troops and electricity workers have been deployed to help with any clean-up efforts. Local authorities have suspended classes and closed ports along the coast, including the port of Acapulco, to shipping. Mexico sees major storms every year, usually between May and November, on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts. In October 2023, Acapulco was pummeled by Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm that killed at least 50 people. Hurricane John, another Category 3 storm that hit Acapulco in September last year, caused about 15 deaths. Hurricane Erick strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 early Thursday as it barreled toward Mexico's Pacific coast AFP People arrive at a school set up as a temporary shelter before Hurricane Erick hits Guerrero State, Mexico AFP
