{"id":45417,"date":"2025-04-24T02:16:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T02:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/45417\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T02:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T02:16:16","slug":"fury-from-mourners-at-pope-francis-lying-in-state-over-ghouls-snapping-selfies-next-to-open-casket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/45417\/","title":{"rendered":"Fury from mourners at Pope Francis\u2019 lying in state over ghouls snapping selfies next to open casket"},"content":{"rendered":"

MOURNERS at the Pope\u2019s lying in state yesterday blasted ghouls snapping selfies next to his open casket.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pallbearers had earlier carried Francis\u2019 body into Saint Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/a> in Vatican City for the solemn three-day ritual.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Pallbearers carry Pope Francis\u2019 body into Saint Peter\u2019s Basilica for a solemn three-day ritualCredit: AP\"People<\/a><\/p>\n

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Guards with ghouls and their cameras taking photos of the Pope lying in state in an open casketCredit: Darren Fletcher\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis died on Easter MondayCredit: Getty\"Illustration<\/a><\/p>\n

Around 20,000 paid respects \u2014 with pilgrims draping blue and white football shirts in honour of the Argentine pontiff<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Officials released photos of Francis laid out in red robes while clutching a rosary, and did not ban public pictures. But church guards stopped some ghouls using camera phones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Catholics Martin and Catherine Gilsenan, both 59, from Wimbledon, South West London<\/a>, were among the mourners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Catherine said: \u201cI was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis<\/a> but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

READ MORE ON THE POPE’S DEATH<\/p>\n

\u201cAround half the people near us wanted to pay respects at the coffin, but the other half were all taking photographs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe kept our phones very firmly in our pockets and would never dream of doing something so distasteful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople had been told not to use selfie sticks but lots ignored the warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the Queen<\/a> lying in state in London and there was no comparison \u2014 this really detracted from the moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Financial services executive Martin added: \u201cWe were staying 100 miles from Rome<\/a> when we heard he\u2019d died and felt obligated to join the queue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFrancis was a great Pope and we admired him for changing the direction of the Church and shifting its appeal to young people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pope Francis’ coffin transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was sad to see such disrespectful behaviour.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Argentine Matheus Silva, 27, admitted taking pictures of \u201cthe first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me\u201d. He added: \u201cOthers were doing the same and I\u2019m happy to share them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

At least 250,000 people are expected at Saturday\u2019s funeral<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The Pope’s casket being carried into St Peter’s Basilica, ready for mourners to pay their respects over the coming daysCredit: AP\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

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A nun cries as she waits to pay respects to Pope FrancisCredit: AP<\/p>\n

\u2018The sad reflection of online culture\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

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By Nick Parker<\/a>, at The Vatican<\/strong><\/p>\n

TEARS flowed in Saint Peter\u2019s Basilica yesterday at what was, for many, a solemn moment to pay their respects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never forget seeing the body of Pope Francis up close, adorned in his ceremonial mitre and robes with a rosary in his pale, waxy hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But for many others who lined up to see the late pontiff, a memory was not enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thousands of mourners alongside me yesterday were unable to take part in this hallowed ritual without snapping a picture to show their mates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I got as close as 25ft to Francis\u2019 coffin, and the entire time I was there it was festooned with camera phone ghouls.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They herded together \u2014 holding up the head of the queue while many raised selfie sticks to look down into the casket. There was no ban on photography \u2014 and glancing around I could see that even priests and nuns snapped away too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What I saw was the polar opposite of my experience viewing the coffin of our late Queen in Westminster in 2022 \u2014 amid perfectly observed dignity and decorum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was a depressing reflection of our selfie-obsessed, social media-driven culture which, I\u2019m sure, would have saddened Pope Francis had he been alive to see it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But I\u2019m also sure that the mourners yesterday would have followed a \u201cno photography\u201d rule had one been imposed by The Vatican \u2014 and that this poignant rite would have been all the better for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, centre right, spreads incense around the Pope’s bodyCredit: AP\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis appeared frail on the central lodge of St Peter\u2019s Basilica on Easter SundayCredit: Reuters \"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis speaks with the then-Prince Charles in October 2019Credit: Reuters<\/p>\n

Who will be the next Pope?<\/p>\n

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FOLLOWING the death of Pope Francis on the morning of Easter Monday, attention turns to the question of his successor.<\/p>\n

Francis led the Catholic church for 12 years, right up until\u00a0his death at 88<\/a>\u00a0– as is tradition.<\/p>\n

After the nine days of mourning have been observed – during which time\u00a0Francis will be buried<\/a>\u00a0– the papal\u00a0conclave will begin<\/a>\u00a0in order to select a successor.<\/p>\n

All 252 cardinals from around the world will travel to Rome for the secret ballot, in which a maximum of 115 can vote.<\/p>\n

When a candidate has two-thirds of the vote, they will be appointed Pope through a pontifical coronation.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the front-runners:<\/p>\n