Even after the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, his predecessor remains popular. Two weeks following the funeral of Pope Francis, thousands continue to visit his modest grave at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in central Rome.
On Saturday morning, those wishing to pay their respects at the late church leader’s grave are queuing under the Roman spring sunshine. Visitors capable of walking well should expect to wait over half an hour, while the elderly and children are given priority. Members of the Italian Red Cross are on hand to ensure operations run smoothly. Barriers and ribbons have been set up in the square behind the grand basilica to manage the crowd efficiently, with temporary toilets also available.
In the queue, one can hear languages such as Spanish, German, French, and notably Italian. A couple from Padua, Italy, have made a special trip to Rome to visit Francis’s grave. “He was and remains popular,” they say. Some visitors are visibly moved to tears at the grave.
The inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for Sunday, 18 May, at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. In the coming days, Belgian cathedrals will hold thanksgiving ceremonies celebrating the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope.
