(Vatican City) — Sniper units and fighter jets will be part of the huge security detail at the Pope’s funeral. Leaders and royalty from around the world will be at the Vatican Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, and thousands of Catholics are expected to crowd St. Peter’s Square. A 24-hour no-fly zone is already in place over Rome, and fighter jets are on standby. Police sniper units are being deployed on the rooftops along the avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square, and ambulances will be on hand. Police checkpoints are surrounding the Vatican, and everyone entering St. Peter’s Square will have to pass through airport-style X-ray scanners.
Nearly 130-thousand people have filed through St. Peter’s Basilica to pay respects to the late Pope Francis. He died Monday at age 88.
More than one-hundred cardinals, including New York’s Timothy Dolan, continue to meet ahead of the upcoming conclave, during which the next pope will be selected.
