The world’s first parish priest gives Church a vision of the way ahead

WHY is the congregation for the Pope’s funeral going to be so big? That is a key question for consideration in the coming weeks of the interregnum between his death and the emergence of his successor.

The closer we get to tomorrow’s funeral services, the larger it seems are the crowds who are thronging to Rome to pay their respects at his remains or just to be part of the congregation for the funeral Mass.

In fact, the crowds in Rome tomorrow will reflect only a portion of those who wanted to, and were prepared to make the effort to travel since many have been dissuaded by the fact that the city runs the risk of bursting at the seams. Hundreds of thousands - mainly from Europe, but also from other corners of the world - are making their way to be present in person for what will not only be the largest ever papal funeral but the largest single Catholic event in the Church’s 2,000-year history.