2 weeks Ago By The Telegraph
It is reasonable for people with trips booked to Rome to have questions about what, exactly, happens in the city after the death of the Pope . There may also be Catholics who wish to travel to Rome and the Vatican at short notice. What happens in Rome when the Pope dies? The death of a Pope is a solemn period for the Catholic Church.
It is marked by nine days of mourning (called the Novendiale) and a carefully choreographed ceremonial process in the Vatican City that lasts weeks. In the coming days there will be a period where people can pay their respects at St Peter’s Basilica, where the Pope will lie in wait. The funeral must take place between four and six days after the Pope’s death followed by the conclave (around 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s death).
After a new Pope is elected, he will make a public appearance in St Peter’s Square. Telegraph Travel destination expert Rebecca Winke, who has lived in Rome since 1993, reflects on the general feeling in Rome after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005: “The area around Vatican City was crowded with mourners, and the curious, from around the globe who waited in line for hours to pay their respects, but just blocks away the city buzzed on as normal. “Rome and Romans have lived cheek-to-jowl with the Pope for centuries so their relationship to Vatican affairs is at once symbiotic and pragmatic.
” Can you visit the Vatican and will basilica and the Sistine Chapel be closed? Following the death of Pope Francis , St Peter’s Basilica will be closed during some religious services, and the Vatican Museums (and Sistine Chapel) will likely close on the day of the funeral and may close a day or two before, too, depending on the service schedule. The Sistine Chapel will then close during the conclave for the selection of the new Pope, which occurs after the Pope’s funeral. Typically the conclave is called between 15 and 20 days after the death of the Pope, to allow for cardinals to gather.
But things could move quicker, given that it is the Jubilee Year in Rome. In 2013, the conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted around 24 hours. Sometimes it can last much longer – in the 13th century, the College of Cardinals took three years to elect Pope Gregory X.
Will St Peter’s Square remain open? St Peter’s Square will remain open during the period of mourning, to allow members of the public to pay their respects. The funeral mass is usually open to the public, but reservations may be required (for free). Will shops and restaurants in Rome close? Businesses in Rome do not typically close during the period of mourning that follows the death of the Pope.
However, some business in and around the Vatican City may be disrupted. Will hotels remain open? Yes, hotels will be open and, in all probability, busier than usual as pilgrims travel from around the world to pay their respects. Will museums and churches in Rome remain open? Museums and churches in Rome (outside of The Vatican) will remain open, although some churches – particularly papal basilicas – may be closed to tourists for special services and ceremonies.
Pope Francis has expressed his desire to be interred inside Santa Maria Maggiore, so if he is indeed entombed there, special masses and services can be expected. Will guided tours still take place? Most guided tours will likely still take place as usual, although itineraries will be altered on the day of the funeral and access to sights in the Vatican restricted. If you have a tour booked in the Vatican City that is cancelled, you would likely be offered a refund or a rebooking option – check the terms and conditions or contact the company.
Will it be busier than usual in Rome? This year is already a significant year for Rome. The city is celebrating a Jubilee Year (also known as a Holy Year), an event which occurs every 25 years. This is a special year in which Catholic pilgrims from around the world travel to Rome to worship, receive communion, pray and pass through the Holy Door (doors at a selection of basilicas, opened during the Jubilee Year).
In addition to the pilgrims who have already booked to visit Rome in 2025, there will now likely be a significant further influx of people travelling to the city. In 2005, reports suggested that as many as four million people travelled from outside of Rome to witness the funeral of John Paul II. Will there be a heightened security presence? Visitors should expect crowds and heightened security in and around St Peter’s Square, but the rest of the city will function more or less as normal.
Public transport to and from the Vatican will likely be particularly busy. Where will I find the latest information? If you have booked an entry ticket or a tour of a museum or church in Rome or the Vatican, it would be wise to check their official website ahead of travelling to check if there are any schedule changes. Vatican News ( vaticannews.
va ) is a good source of information – including schedules and timings. You should also check the Jubilee website ( iubilaeum2025.va ), where updates will likely be posted.
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