On the last day of Pope Francis lying in the state, a large crowd flocked to the Vatican

Thousands of mourners have been waiting for hours to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who died after suffering a stroke of 88 on Monday. A higher than expected turnout prompted the Vatican to extend the opening hours of the cathedral overnight.

The Vatican said Friday morning that more than 128,000 people have paid tribute to Francis and applied for his open coffin, which was placed in front of the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. Some were praying, others held up their smartphones and took pictures of the late Pontiff, who squinted with the bishop’s pointed tip and the rosary wrapped around his hand.

The cathedral remained open until around 3 a.m. Friday and closed for several hours before reopening the mourners who began arriving before dawn. Three days of public viewing are scheduled to end Friday at 6 p.m. – an hour earlier than previously announced – after which Francis’ simple wooden coffin will be sealed.

State and royal chiefs will gather in Rome on Friday Saturday’s funeral In St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

President Trump and Argentina President Javier Milei were among the leaders who arrived Friday, and the last day the Pope will live in the cathedral state before his coffin was sealed at night to prepare for the funeral.

The Vatican said 130 delegations were confirmed, including 50 heads of state and 10 ruling monarchs.

Meeting work Choose a new pope After 9 days of public mourning, it will not start until at least May 5.

The Cardinal has also arrived in Rome and will discuss church business at 113 meetings Thursday morning. They will meet again on Friday after a break.

“We are ready, but we are not yet in a more intense phase. We are in the organizational phase,” Italian cardinal Fernando Filoni said on Thursday.

In keeping with Francis’ embrace of marginalization, the Vatican said a group of poor and needy people will greet the pope’s coffin when they arrive at the burial of St. Mary Major Basilica on Saturday.

The grave was prepared behind a wooden obstacle in the cathedral, and he chose to be near the idol of Madonna, whom he respected and often prayed for.

The Vatican posted on Friday the pictures of the marble tombstone apartment with the sidewalk, his simple carving in Latin was what he asked for in his final will: “Franciscus”

Mr. Trump travels with First Lady Melania Trump, who plans to arrive after Francis’ coffin is sealed.

Former President Joe Biden maintains close working and personal relationships with Francis, dating back to his 2015 visit to the United States, Planning to attend a funeralAccording to multiple people who know his plan.

Among foreign dignitaries confirmed for the papal funeral are Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Hungarian President Viktor Orbán and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Israel will send Vatican ambassador Yaron Sideman, a lower diplomat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not express condolences on behalf of the Jewish state until Friday.

Relations between Israel and the Pope have been tense since the outbreak of the Gaza War.

The pope condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel, but also frequently criticized Israel’s actions in military operations in Gaza.