Rome under siege: over 10,000 police deployed for Pope Francis' final journey

Italian authorities have put in place unprecedented security measures in Rome to manage the massive influx of believers and international dignitaries expected at the funeral of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, according to Italian press and the Rai News website. The event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Peter's Square, coincides with the celebration of Italy's Liberation Day, amplifying the logistical and symbolic complexity of the moment.

Therefore, the Italian government has decreed five days of national mourning, a longer duration than that granted to Pope John Paul II in 2005. Flags are flown at half-mast on all official buildings, and public events have been suspended or adapted accordingly. At the same time, authorities have mobilized a large-scale security apparatus in Rome. According to the cited sources, more than 10,000 members of the law enforcement forces - police, carabinieri, military and special units - are patrolling the streets, squares and sensitive areas around the Vatican. The Tiber River is being monitored by teams of divers and mobile teams patrolling in inflatable boats, and the airspace above Rome has been declared a temporary no-fly zone. According to the cited sources, a special unit of the Italian army, specialized in drone warfare, will monitor the skies over Rome and the Vatican during the funeral procession that will take place on Saturday, April 26.

Although there were no major incidents at the last papal funeral, the Italian authorities have raised the anti-terrorist alert level, and thousands of police are deployed in Rome. All the force structures in the country are involved in the security operations. Police patrols, including on horseback, are present everywhere in the Italian capital.

Local authorities are still finalizing plans for the day of the funeral, with the funeral procession expected to cross much of the city to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is located outside the Vatican.

Several million people are expected to arrive in Rome in the coming days. In 2005, for example, the funeral of Pope John Paul II attracted 4 million people to Rome. It was also the event attended by the largest number of heads of state outside of UN meetings.

Security measures also include the activation of the Rome Police Command Center, which coordinates all surveillance and intervention operations in real time. In addition, the Vatican is working closely with the Italian authorities, through the Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, to ensure the protection of dignitaries and participants in the ceremonies.

"One thing is certain: there will be at least 200,000 people at the funeral and we expect another 250,000 for the election of the new Pope. We are analyzing the flow of believers arriving in Italy and Rome, by cars, buses and minibuses, by train, by plane and by boat, with particular attention to arrivals from South America, especially Argentina. We are constantly monitoring the number of people traveling to our country in order to adapt the reception and management measures by our Operations Committee, a committee served daily by over 2,500 people," said Fabio Ciciliano, head of the Civil Protection Department, for Corriere della Sera, quoted by Rai News.

He specified that one of the most delicate moments will be the procession that after the funeral will take Pope Francis to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

"It will be a difficult funeral procession to manage because tens of thousands along the route will want to say their last goodbye to the Pope. To prepare for an event of such magnitude, we have to go back a long way in time, when the number of participants was much smaller," said Fabio Ciciliano.

In addition to the pilgrims, the funeral will be attended by more than 170 official delegations from around the world. Among the leaders who have confirmed their presence are US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ilie Bolojan - the interim president of Romania, as well as Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Representatives of the Orthodox Church will also attend, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on the morning of Easter Sunday after suffering a stroke after suffering from double pneumonia. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when he blessed the crowd in St. Peter's Square, looking visibly frail. In accordance with his wishes, his body was placed in a simple wooden coffin and transferred yesterday morning to St. Peter's Basilica, where it will remain until Friday evening for the public to pay their respects. According to his will, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in a simple tomb, without special decorations, with a single inscription: "Franciscus". This choice reflects his modest and down-to-earth lifestyle, which characterized his entire pontificate.

After the funeral, the period of "vacancies" will begin, during which cardinals under 80 will meet to elect a new pope. According to the procedures established by Pope Francis in 2024, the conclave will begin 15-20 days after death, in the Sistine Chapel, where there will be several rounds of voting until the majority necessary to elect a new pontiff is reached.