Next Pope LIVE: Fury erupts as 'disrespectful' mourners take selfies next to open casket
Angry mourners at Pope Francis’s lying in state have blasted people taking selfies beside his open casket in St Peter's Basilica, calling the behaviour “distasteful” and disrespectful. Church guards intervened to stop some visitors using camera phones, though public photos were not officially banned.
Catherine Gilsenan, from Wimbledon, said the atmosphere was ruined by people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying proper respects. Her husband, Martin, said they travelled 100 miles to honour a Pope they admired for modernising the Catholic Church. But others, like Argentine visitor Matheus Silva, defended snapping pictures, saying he was proud to honour “the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me".
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Israel has deleted a social media post sending condolences following the death of Pope Francis. The post, published on Monday, was removed hours after being shared without explanation.
A post on the country’s official X account said: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli foreign ministry officials said the messages on social media were “posted in error” and that the Pope had made comments “against Israel”.
“We responded to the Pope’s statements against Israel and the war during his lifetime, and we will not do so after his death,” officials were quoted as saying.
Huge crowds thronged St Peter's Square in Vatican City, queuing for hours to see the late pontiff in his open coffin ahead of his funeral this weekend.
Waves of mourners stood patiently in line after Francis's remains were transferred to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, with the queue snaking its way through the square to the Holy Door of the building.
Some 19,430 people had been to the basilica "to pay homage to Pope Francis", a Vatican spokesman said on Wednesday evening, less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there, and where it will stay until Friday.
While it had been expected the basilica would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, it remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects.
Angry mourners at Pope Francis’s lying in state have blasted people taking selfies beside his open casket, calling the behaviour “distasteful” and disrespectful.
Church guards intervened to stop some visitors using camera phones, though public photos were not officially banned.
Catherine Gilsenan, from Wimbledon, said the atmosphere was ruined by people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying proper respects.
Her husband Martin said they travelled 100 miles to honour a Pope they admired for modernising the Church.
But others, like Argentine visitor Matheus Silva, defended snapping pictures, saying he was proud to honour “the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me".
We'll be bringing you regular updates as the Vatican prepares for Saturday's funeral and contemplates Pope Francis's successor.
Daily Express
