Vatican prepares for massive turnout during Pope Francis’ funeral

VATICAN CITY -APR. 26: The Vatican is expecting up to 250,000 mourners to gather in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday,Apr. 25, with an additional million lining the streets of Rome, as Pope Francis is laid to rest following his death.The late pontiff’s coffin will travel a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) procession from Vatican City to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be interred.His funeral Mass, which will held on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica—one of Catholicism’s holiest sites—is expected to attract more than 50 world leaders and 11 reigning monarchs.Among the dignitaries in attendance are U.S. President Donald Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., representing Asia’s largest Catholic nation.Security measures have been heightened across Rome as vast crowds gather to pay their final respects. The Vatican has deployed extensive logistical support to manage the influx of mourners, with large screens set up for those unable to enter the square.(Footage by Ömer Sercan Karkuş /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)