As Rome prepares for the farewell to Pope Francis, who passed away yesterday, Monday April 21, the city is expected to draw unprecedented numbers of visitors over the next few weeks.
Pope Francis’ funeral will be on Saturday 26 April
The body of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 just one day after Easter, will lie in state from tomorrow, Wednesday 23 April, allowing the faithful and curious alike to pay their final respects in St. Peter’s Basilica. The funeral, the Vatican announced yesterday, will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.
Tour companies are monitoring the situation
With a nine-day period of official mourning that began immediately, no major closures have yet been confirmed, but tour companies are monitoring updates closely. Flexibility will be essential to ensure that changes can be made, if and when needed, for visitors already in the city and those arriving in Rome with pre-planned itineraries. Predictions are for an inevitable surge in the number of visitors in key points around the city like St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, as well as the city’s other sacred sites as well as in historical sites like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
32 million visitors estimated in 2025
With crowds already surging for the 2025 Jubilee Year, the passing of Pope Francis adds a further dimension to what is already an extremely busy period for the city. An estimated 32 million are expected to visit Rome over this Jubilee year, and the Pope’s death will likely increase interest over the coming days in visiting the city’s sacred sites as well as central areas of the city.
Closures to landmarks are possible
While no announcements have been made yet, it is clear that at certain times this week, and into the following weeks when the Conclave to elect the new Pope takes place in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, popular sites and landmarks could face closures or crowd management protocols.
A different resting place, a break with tradition
Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis has requested to be buried not beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, but at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which is a significant departure from tradition. Other major basilicas, such as San Giovanni in Laterano and Saint Paul Outside the Walls, are also expected to draw larger crowds during this time and tour operators are keeping a close eye on the situation.
