The death of Pope Francis shocked the entire world, but not all displays of respect were up to the moment. Thousands of people approached St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to bid farewell to the Argentine pontiff, who passed away last Easter Monday due to a stroke.
However, many took the opportunity to take selfies next to the Pope's body, generating a wave of outrage both on social media and among the attendees themselves.
Inappropriate photos at a solemn moment
Amid the solemn silence that reigns in the Basilica, some stopped in front of the open casket to take photos, even smiling, and then shared them on platforms like Instagram. The scene was described as "a lack of respect" by numerous witnesses.
Indignación por selfies frente al féretro del Papa Francisco en el Vaticano
Among them, Martin Gilsenan, a British tourist, told the Mirror:
"People were asked to put away their selfie sticks upon reaching the front. Many were annoyed by those using their phones at that moment."
His wife, Catherine, added:
"I found it in very poor taste to see phones taking pictures. I was surprised they allowed it."
A gesture that sparked widespread outrage
The images circulated quickly, provoking indignation. For many, the gesture contradicts the spirit of reflection that should prevail in a farewell of this kind.
Janine Venables, a Welsh visitor, expressed to the Daily Mail:
"We had been asked not to take photos in the Sistine Chapel, and yet here people were taking selfies with the coffin. I found it completely out of place."
Indignación por selfies frente al féretro del Papa Francisco en el Vaticano
A massive farewell in the Vatican
According to Vatican authorities, about 50,000 people passed through the Basilica since the Pope's passing, even prompting the temple to remain open throughout Wednesday night to allow public entry.
Francis's body was laid out humbly, just as he had requested: it is not elevated on a mound but rests at the level of the pews and in front of the faithful, guarded by four Swiss Guards. With this arrangement, the pontiff wanted to emphasize his vision of the papal role as a "simple shepherd" rather than a world leader.
Funeral with the presence of international leaders
Francis's funeral will take place this Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. The presence of international leaders is expected, including the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky.
