In Rome, they said goodbye to Pope Francis before the upcoming funeral

In Rome, those wishing to say goodbye to Pope Francis gathered near the Catholic Church of Santa Maria Maggiore before the upcoming funeral. The footage is at the disposal of Izvestia.

Many of those who came to say goodbye to the pontiff held candles and flowers in their hands, some stood silently in prayer, while others sang religious hymns.

According to the press service of the Holy See, the closing ceremony of the pope's coffin was also held in St. Peter's Cathedral. At the same time, Pope Francis' face was covered with a white silk handkerchief.

"The Pope has been resting in a coffin in St. Peter's Basilica since Wednesday. After huge crowds of about 250,000 people visited St. Peter's Basilica over the past three days, it became empty as the last mourners paid their respects," the press service of the Holy See said.

The media learned about the intention of 50 heads of state to attend the funeral of the Pope

Pope Francis died on the morning of April 21 at the age of 89. According to Professor Andrea Archangeli, director of the Vatican's Office of Health and Hygiene, death occurred as a result of a cerebral stroke. On the occasion of his death, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to the Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church to Farrell.

The last time Pope Francis appeared in public was on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter celebrations on April 20. The pontiff has been struggling with bilateral pneumonia for a long time.