St. Peter’s Basilica Reopens for Pope Francis’s Final Respects, Nigerian Dignitaries Attend Amid Global Mourning
VATICAN CITY — St. Peter’s Basilica reopened on April 24, 2025, after a brief closure for cleaning, welcoming tens of thousands of mourners from around the world to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88 following a stroke. Among the mourners were Nigerian dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and other prominent figures, joining a global outpouring of grief for the pontiff known for his humility and advocacy for the poor. The basilica, kept open nearly around the clock due to unprecedented crowds, saw over 90,000 visitors by Thursday evening, with the event trending on X under #PopeFrancis (200,000 posts). The three-day public viewing, ending April 25, precedes a funeral Mass on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, attended by 130 delegations, including 50 heads of state, per AP News.
Unprecedented Crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica
The 16th-century basilica, where Pope Francis’s simple wooden coffin was placed on a ramp at the main altar, remained open until 5:30 a.m. on April 24, closing briefly for 90 minutes before reopening at 7:00 a.m., per Daily Post Nigeria. By Thursday evening, the Vatican reported over 90,000 mourners had filed past the pontiff’s open casket, dressed in red vestments with a rosary and mitre, flanked by Swiss Guards, per The Guardian. The extended hours accommodated the high turnout, with queues stretching along Via della Conciliazione, marked by moments of communal singing, such as teenage girls chanting Ave Maria, per BBC News.
Mourners like Emiliano Fernandez from Mexico, who waited over two hours, expressed admiration for Francis’s inclusive legacy, per Outlook India. Robert Healy, an Irish pilgrim, flew from Dublin for a day to honor the pontiff, per AP News. Nigerian mourners, including Catholic faithful from Lagos, shared sentiments on X, with @PatrioticGee calling Francis “a true servant of God,” per X Post. The Vatican’s decision to keep the basilica open reflected Francis’s wish for a simple, accessible farewell, with his coffin not elevated, per CBS News.
Nigerian Dignitaries Pay Respects
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a Nigerian delegation to the Vatican, joined by senior Catholic leaders like Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, per Premium Times. Nigeria, with over 30 million Catholics, mourned deeply, with churches in Abuja and Lagos holding memorial Masses, per Vanguard Nigeria. Shettima’s attendance at the viewing underscored Nigeria’s strong ties to the Vatican, reinforced by Francis’s 2015 visit to Africa, where he championed peace and poverty alleviation, per BBC News Pidgin. President Bola Tinubu, in a statement, praised Francis as “a global advocate for the downtrodden,” confirming Nigeria’s representation at the funeral, per The Punch.
On X, #PopeFrancis posts from Nigeria highlighted gratitude for his support during regional crises, with @MobilePunch noting his calls for peace amid Boko Haram violence, per X Post. The Nigerian Catholic Bishops’ Conference urged citizens to emulate Francis’s humility, per The Sun Nigeria. Shettima’s presence, alongside dignitaries like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited on April 23, per Daily Mail, emphasized the global reverence for Francis.
Funeral and Burial Plans
The public viewing ends on April 25 at 7:00 p.m., with the coffin sealed for a funeral Mass on April 26 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, per ABC News. Over 200,000 are expected to attend, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Argentine President Javier Milei, per Reuters. Enhanced security, with drones, mounted police, and anti-drone jammers, is in place, per BBC News.
Breaking tradition, Francis will be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, near his cherished Madonna icon, with a simple tombstone inscribed “Franciscus,” per The Irish Times. This choice reflects his preference for simplicity, as seen in his streamlined funeral rites, per The Guardian. The conclave to elect his successor, involving 133 eligible cardinals, is set to begin no earlier than May 5, per PBS News.
Francis’s Legacy and Global Context
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, led the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church for 12 years, championing migrants, the poor, and interfaith dialogue, per ABC News. His progressive stances, including support for marginalized groups, resonated globally, with mourners like Eva Asensio from Mexico praising his inclusivity, per MyJoyOnline. However, his critiques of capitalism and climate change drew conservative backlash, per Newsday.
Nigeria’s economic struggles, with a naira at N1,610/$1 and 40% inflation, per NBS, and security challenges, with over 120 deaths in April, per The Punch, frame the mourning. Cultural moments like Wizkid’s Morayo topping charts offer brief relief, per BellaNaija. The Vatican’s transition, amid global crises like Ukraine’s war and mpox outbreaks, per Al Jazeera, underscores the significance of Francis’s peace advocacy.
Public Sentiment and Looking Ahead
X posts reflect diverse emotions. @AmericanfocusAF noted the 50,000 mourners by April 24, per X Post, while @austeni reported 128,000 visitors by April 25, per X Post. Nigerian users like @EmirAjibola_IB urged continued prayers, per X Post. Critics on X questioned the Vatican’s crowd management, with some alleging restricted access, though Vatican statements confirmed open access, per X Post.
The mourning period and funeral mark a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, with Nigeria’s participation highlighting its global influence. As the conclave looms, the world watches to see how Francis’s successor will navigate his legacy of compassion amid complex challenges, per Catholic Canada.
