About 250,000 mourners pay last respects to Pope Francis over 3 days of public viewing

VATICAN CITY (AP) — More than 250,000 people paid their last respects to Pope Francis over three days of public viewing by ordinary mourners and statesmen alike that ended Friday, the eve of his state funeral in St. Peter’s Square and burial in a basilica outside the Vatican’s walls.

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, along with royalty, converged on Rome for the funeral, but the group of marginalized people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp.

The Vatican said that 164 delegations are confirmed, including 54 heads of state and 12 reigning sovereigns. French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also attend the funeral, was among those who made it in time to pay last respects to the pope.

Tens of thousands of mourners waited hours in line over three days to bid farewell to Francis, who died Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88. A higher-than-expected turnout prompted the Vatican to extend the basilica’s opening hours overnight.

A changing of the guards at the sides of Francis’ open coffin signaled the end of the viewing period. The late pontiff was laid out in red robes, a bishop’s pointed miter and a rosary entwined in his hands.

Giovanni Guarino drove from Naples with his girlfriend to bid their final farewells to the Francis, moved by his work to help the young and disadvantaged.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin in his role of camerlengo, or interim Vatican administrator. A white cloth will be placed over the pope’s face, and a bag containing coins minted during...

“I hope that his successor follows the footsteps of Francis,” Guarino said.

Need a better Francis, one who won't destroy the Temple.

Weird how he died on the day of the founding of Rome.

It just takes one person to make a simple observation, or to pull the plug:

Holy Temples Destroyed (423 BCE and 69 CE)
Both the first and second Holy Temples which stood in Jerusalem were destroyed on Av 9: the First Temple by the Babylonians in the year 3338 from creation (423 BCE), and the second by the Romans in 3829 (69 CE).
>>>
Yet the Ninth of Av is also a day of hope. The Talmud relates that Moshiach ("anointed one"--the Messiah), was born at the very moment that the Temple was set aflame and the Galut began. [This is in keeping with the teachings of our sages that, "In every generation is born a descendent of Judah who is worthy to become Israel's Moshiach" (Bartinoro on Ruth); "When the time will come, G-d will reveal Himself to him and send him, and then the spirit of Moshiach, which is hidden and secreted on high, will be manifested in him" (Chattam Sofer).]
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?tdate=07%2F16%2F2013

On that date I literally woke up in Eureka, passing through for the one night:

"Eureka" received its name from a Greek word meaning "I have found it!"[32][33][34] This exuberant statement of successful (or hopeful) gold rush miners is also the official motto of the State of California. Eureka is the only U.S. location to use the same seal as the state for its seal.[35]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka,_California

"מצאתי"

(= 541)

In modern times (Gregorian calendar-wise), the earliest Tisha B'Av falls on July 16th. Before that date the Temples hadn't been destroyed. Julian:

3338:
Tisha Ba'Av (Fast of Av / Destruction of the Temple)
9 Av Tuesday 16 July -422
3829:
Tisha Ba'Av (Fast of Av / Destruction of the Temple)
9 Av Sunday 16 July 69
https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/hebrew/hebrewyear_year.htm

The Gregorian earliest date seems to drift completely out of range. From the dates beginning with 1800, 1842's was a Sabbath postponement to 7/17. There's 1861, 1899, a postponent in 1994, 2013, and then a postponement in 2089 before it drops off the schedule, so it actually dropped off in 2013.

Ten days prior, I watched the Bang Ding Ow report live on the local news -- the coverage for "ruach" Flight 214:

The attempted go-around was conducted below 100 feet, by which time it was too late. Over-reliance on automation and lack of systems understanding by the pilots were cited as major factors contributing to the accident.[93]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214#Investigation

Asiana:

אסיאנה
אסיא נ"ה

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.