Furious mourners who queued for the Pope’s lying-in-state on Wednesday have slammed social media users for shamelessly taking selfies next to his open casket – calling the behaviour “distasteful” and disrespectful.
The Vatican confirmed the 88-year-old passed away at around 7.30am on Easter Monday from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. His body has since been moved into Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City for the three-day ritual ahead of his funeral. Some 20,000 worshippers have queued up to pay respects, but many sparked widespread fury after they were spotted snapping pictures with Francis’ body – laid out in a coffin and surrounded by red robes in the background.
One image posted to Instagram showed a woman smiling into the camera with the Pope lying in his velvet-lined coffin around 10ft behind her.
Guards were reportedly forced to step in at points to stop members of the public from using their phone cameras, while worhsippers, many who queued eight hours to pay their respects to Francis ahead of his burial on Saturday, branded the selfie-takers’ behaviour as “distasteful”.
Catherine Gilsenan, from Wimbledon, South West London, said their actions ruined the atmosphere, with people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of properly paying their respects. She told The Sun: “I was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures”.
Ms Gilsenan said she and her husband put their phones away in their pockets throughout their time at the Basilica, adding it was “sad to see such disrespectful behaviour”.
Other visitors, like Argentine visitor Matheus Silva, defended the photo-snapping, saying he was proud to celebrate “the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me”.
Images captured a sea of smartphones attempting to shoot multimedia footage near the coffin as Francis’ body as he lay in state inside the church. Some even brought extended selfie sticks with them in a bid to get the best shot, and nuns were among those spotted gathering around Francis with their phones in hand.
Pope Francis’ coffin will be at Saint Peter’s Basilica until Friday. Then, in accordance with his will, the pontiff will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome in a simple tomb bearing only the inscription “Franciscus”.
The Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death. After the funeral, there will be nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali” during which the cardinals arrive in Rome. A private meeting, known as the papal conclave, must then begin 15-20 days after the “sede vacante” (empty seat) is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.
Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote for a papal successor in the Sistine Chapel. The conclave will last until a new Pope is chosen, and the cardinals will not emerge from the Vatican until a decision has been reached.
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