Vatican City Mourns Pope Francis as Thousands Visit Tomb

VATICAN CITY — Roman Catholic faithful began visiting the tomb of Pope Francis on Sunday, a day after he was honored by world leaders and a large crowd. They lined up at St. Mary Major Basilica to pay their respects following the Pope’s funeral, which was attended by hundreds of thousands.

A single white rose was placed on the simple white tomb, inscribed with “Franciscus,” his name in Latin. Visitors were moved by the atmosphere, with many crossing themselves or taking photos as they walked by the tomb, illuminated by soft light. “I see all the people are truly moved,” said Rosario Correale from Salerno, Italy. “He has truly left a mark on us.”

Ushers encouraged the crowd to keep moving to accommodate the thousands flocking to the basilica. Later, a group of cardinals arrived by bus and entered the church for an evening vespers service. The tomb opened on the second of nine official days of mourning, which precedes a conclave to elect Francis’s successor.

“Pope Francis for me was an inspiration, a guide,” said Elias Caravalhal, who lives in Rome. He was unable to visit while the Pope lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica after his death on Easter Monday at age 88. Caravalhal expressed gratitude, saying, “I visited the tomb to thank him for what he has done.”

A special Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, took place in St. Peter’s Square and drew an estimated 200,000 attendees, many of whom were young people gathered for the canonization of Carlo Acutis. “The grief at his departure… we are experiencing all of this, like the apostles grieving over the death of Jesus,” Parolin said in his homily.

The cardinals who traveled to Rome for Francis’s funeral will meet regularly this week to prepare for the conclave, expected to start between May 5 and May 10. The choice of burial location reflects Francis’s “humble, simple and essential” lifestyle, as noted by the basilica’s archbishop. Tourist Amaya Morris from Los Angeles expressed her admiration for the Pope’s final resting place, saying, “I thought it was amazing that he wanted to be buried here.”