As tens of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica to bid farewell to Pope Francis, a scene meant for solemn reflection was marred by an unexpected controversy: mourners using phones to take selfies near the late pontiff’s body.
Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, was laid in state in red vestments, rosary in hand, as part of the Church’s traditional three-day vigil before his funeral on Saturday. Over 20,000 people visited on the first day alone, many offering quiet prayers, some draping Argentine football shirts near the bier in homage to the Pope’s homeland.
But reverence quickly gave way to dismay for some in attendance.
“It was awful seeing so many people taking pictures,” said Catherine Gilsenan, 59, of Wimbledon, South West London. “We kept our phones firmly in our pockets. This is a moment of respect, not a photo op.”
Her husband, Martin, who traveled over 100 miles to Rome upon hearing the news of the Pope’s death, echoed her concern. “Francis was a great Pope. It was sad to see such disrespectful behavior,” he said.
Though Vatican officials did not explicitly ban photography, they discouraged the use of selfie sticks and asked visitors to remain reverent. Still, guards were reportedly forced to intervene as several attendees began filming and snapping pictures, turning the sacred vigil into what some described as a social media spectacle.
Catherine compared the atmosphere unfavorably to the lying in state of Queen Elizabeth II. “There was no comparison — this really detracted from the moment.”
Not all visitors shared the same sentiment. Matheus Silva, 27, from Argentina, admitted to taking pictures but defended his decision. “He was the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me,” he said. “Others were doing the same and I’m happy to share them.”
The contrasting reactions reveal a cultural divide between reverence and digital expression, raising questions about etiquette in moments of public mourning.
As Pope Francis lies in state ahead of his funeral, Church officials are likely to revisit how best to balance open access with maintaining sacred space — especially for a Pope who inspired devotion across all generations, including the digital one.
