They came from all over the world and squeezed into St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis call for peace on Easter. A day later, the Vatican declared him dead.
News of Francis' death on Monday, his open popemobile was deported into the crowd, cheering “viva il papa!”, news of Francis' death on Monday, tourists and pilgrims flocking to Rome were shocked. On the holiest days of Christianity.
Pastor Bache, a retired pastor in the United States who held Holy Week in Rome, compared the pain of learning the sudden death of the pope with bruises.
“He appeared in public yesterday [Sunday]looks healthy. I was shocked, and of course I was sad. ” he said.
“It’s sad,” Ida Marie, who traveled from Denmark to Rome, told CBC News. “We were here yesterday and we saw him alive and he was waving with a smile. So we were so surprised to hear this today. It's right to come back and pay tribute.”
Sue Rak, who visited Rome from Garner with her husband and children, said Francis “want to see God.”
“May him rest in peace. He did a great job in the world.” “He wants to protect the weak.”
As the news and tourists and Romans sink, the atmosphere of mourning gradually filters into the square, they have been enjoying the sunny Easter Monday holiday. At noon, St. Peter's bell mourns, and silence comes to the crowd.
“We saw him here, he was just driven away in the car. This morning it was shocking news,” said Letizia Bartocci, who works in a jewelry store not far from the square.
For Alicia Rios from Mexico, Francis' death was a “real surprise.”
“I'm lucky to be here to pray for his soul and thank him for everything he did for us,” she told CBC News.
While it was “very sad” to hear his death, she added that part of her feeling was also somewhat happy because we know he was suffering from his own health.
“We just hope so many people pray for him and we thank him for everything he did for us.”
“It really shocked you,” said Emanuela Tinari from Rome. “He is a pope, bringing so many people close to the church.”
Frank Lavis Tourneta, who visited from France's French of Corsica, said he was moved to the day the pope died and found himself in Rome.
“Today, I saw the signal that Pope Francis died today and went to heaven. I believe this is a strong signal of Christian faith today.”
