nazmus sakib

News

Every year, significant moments of collective mourning and reflection occur at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Yet few are as poignant and widely witnessed as the occasion when faithful pilgrims, dignitaries, and everyday Catholics file past the open casket of a reigning pontiff lying in state. In this article, we explore the atmosphere, rituals, and spiritual meaning behind the visitation of mourners to Pope Francis’s body as he lay in state, drawing upon historical precedent and the unique character of Francis’s papacy.