Scots in Rome and at home prepare for Pope Francis’ funeral

Thousands of Scots are preparing to respect their last respect for Pope Francis before his funeral in Rome.

Prime Minister John Swinney has traveled to the Italian capital for Mass, where Prime Keir Starmer, Prince William, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and dozens of other dignitaries, will join Prime Minister.

The Bishop of Paisley John Keenan, clergy and parishioners throughout the country is also in Italy for the service, which will begin at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST). Many more will follow the funeral at home.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church died on Easter at age 88, after suffering a stroke.

Pope Francis, who was named in 2013, will be buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four main basilicas of Rome.

On Thursday, the prime minister, who described the Pontiff as “a man who was always on the side of the poor,” confirmed that he would attend the service.

Swinney said: “His holiness, Pope Francis was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation that had a natural capacity to connect with people of all ages, nationalities and beliefs.

“On behalf of the people of Scotland, I feel deeply honored to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome to express my pain, thanks and a deep respect for compassion, security and hope that he has brought so many.”

The service will see a funeral procession in the Pope’s coffin to the square in front of the Basilica of San Pedro.

It will be directed by the Dean of the Cardinals College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

It will end with a final recommendation, a final sentence where the pontiff will formally int;

Bishop John Keenan, from the Diocese of Paisley, will represent the Bishops Scotland conference (BCOS) at the funeral, having Pope Francis several times.

It will be between hundreds or senior clergy between a fixed crowd in St Peter’s Square.

Bishop Keenan described Pope Francis, who was the first South American Pontiff, as a “breath of fresh air.”

He told BBC Scotland News: “The crowds are building, building and building.

“I am used to Rome, but I have never seen crowds like this.

“The atmosphere is gloomy, there is a feeling that we have lost a father of the universal family, and there is a feeling around the world that we have lost a fairly unique leader.

“But it is also positive, there is also gratitude there.”

A variety of world leaders and dignitaries will attend the service.

But thousands of ordinary Catholics have also arrived to respect a pontiff known to avoid many of the extravagant ornaments associated with the position.

And many hung up for hours before the week to see Pope Francis in a state in the Basilica of San Pedro in the Vatican.

Among them was Aidan McCall, 19, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

He decided to fly a few hours after learning about the death of the Pope, and saw the pontiff who lay in the state.

He said: “It was a last minute decision. I don’t know where I will be in life the next time an event like this occurs, so I felt it was important to try to do it here.”

McCall added that he and his friends hoped to enter the Plaza de San Pedro for the funeral.

Tom Clarke, secretary of the Catholic Association of the University of Glasgow, had just returned from a Easter trip to Rome with his family, where he saw Pope Francis in person, when he learned of death.

Then he has flown back to Italy on Friday to be there for funeral.

Mr. Clarke told BBC Scotland News: “Pope Francis is all I have known from a Catholic perspective.

“I think that the testimony of many young people, including myself, at the funeral, it is important to show the world that it is something that really means a lot to us.

“You need our prayers when it has gone from this life.

“It is a difficult job and I have fought with that, so it is good to do it and pay our quotas.”

Other Scots had the intention of being in Rome for the canonization of the adolescent Saint Carlo Acutis, who was scheduled for Sunday, but has postponed due to the death of Pope Francis.

John Patrick Mallon, or the Catholic videos production company Sancta Middle Family, said the city was already full of people, with “extraordinary security measures” established by the Italian government.

He said: “It is an incredible move. Here we see thousands of people from all areas of life, and that is very edifying for me: the atmosphere is more gratitude than sadness.”

In Scotland, many other Catholics will follow the funeral on television, while a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis will take place in the Edinburgh Cathedral on Monday.

The flags in Scottish government buildings will also fly at half -mast of the funeral in honor of Pope Francis.