April 26, 2025 | 08:59 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Until the last day of paying respects to Pope Francis, on Friday, April 25, 2025, visitors continue to flock to St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. Diocesan Pastor of the Bandung Diocese, Thomas Kristiatmo, is one of those who came to St. Peter's Basilica. He had to wait in line for almost three hours to approach Francis' casket.
"The three hours are relatively short as some had to wait for eight hours before," he said when contacted via WhatsApp in the early hours of Saturday, Indonesia time, April 26, 2025. Kristiatmo arrived at St. Peter's Square at 8 o'clock in the morning, and only got to see the Pope's body just before 11 o'clock Vatican time.
He was grateful to be able to pay his last respects at St. Peter's Basilica. When Pope Francis passed away in the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025, Kristiatmo was on a scholarship at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. At St. Peter's Square, he joined a group that also waited in line while praying the Rosary, a prayer for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Arriving at the casket where Francis lay, Kristiatmo paused briefly to pray. However, the attendants at the Basilica instructed him to keep walking. They did not allow visitors to stop as the line was still long. "Pastor, please do not stop," Kristiatmo mimicked the words of the Basilica attendant.
Kristiatmo understood the gentle reprimand. Although he was only briefly in front of Pope Francis' body, Kristiatmo remained grateful. "I was touched to see him for the last time," said Kristiatmo.
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