When the world was giving a final farewell to 88 -year -old Pope Francis, there was a crowd of most powerful leaders in the Vatican on Saturday and the marginalized people of the society, which Pope Francis was always ready to serve.
According to the Vatican, around 250,000 people paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, 21 April. For the past few days, his body was placed in a simple wooden coffin inside the St. Peter Basilica. 60 heads of state attended the funeral, including US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodimir Zelansky.
The funeral of Pope Francis began at 1:30 pm (IST) at the royal baroque plaza in front of St. Peter Basilica in Vatican. The funeral was led by Cardinal Geoani Batista Ray. At the end of the funeral public programs, he was described privately in Santa Maria Magigor Basilica in Rome.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 due to cardiac arrest on 21 April, a few weeks ago he returned home after battling double pneumonia. Just 20 hours before his death, the Pope gave his last darshan on Easter, in which he reminded the world of the essence of life and urged people to rewrite the hope of peace.
Who will be the next Pope?
With the funeral of Pope Francis today, now everyone’s eyes will be on the election of their successor. When a pope dies or resigns, the Catholic Church regime is handed over to the college of Cardinals, who serve as the Pope’s closest advisor during his tenure.
Subsequently, a Pope conference is held, in which the cardinals come together to choose the new bishop of Rome and the new Pope is selected based on a two-third majority. Since June, Cardinal Louis Antonio Tagle has taken over the dickastry for the gospel promotion, one of the most important departments of the church, which makes them one of the most prominent contenders.
Other candidates who can be considered include Jerusalem’s Latin Patriyc Cardinal Pearbatista Pizaballa, 60, and Colombo’s Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit, 77 in Sri Lanka, 77. Cardinal Mario Gratu and Cardinal Charles Muung Bo, Burma’s Cardinal Charles Muung Bo, Yangon’s Archbishop, can also be considered.
