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Rome Gears Up for Pope's Funeral: 4,000 Police, Snipers, and Drones for 200,000 Faithful
Italy has implemented an extensive security plan ahead of Pope Francis' funeral, scheduled for Saturday at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where over 200,000 faithful and numerous heads of state and government are expected. To ensure safety, 4,000 police officers will be deployed across Rome, and a no-fly zone will be established.
Hundreds of agents and civil protection members are already stationed around the Vatican to control traffic and direct the high flow of people heading to St. Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to the Pope. His body was moved this Wednesday to the basilica, where it will remain on display until Friday.
Approximately 2,000 Carabinieri (militarized police), along with state police officers and financial guards, have already been deployed, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Additionally, hundreds of local police officers will increase their presence to up to 2,000 personnel between April 25 and 26.
The security operation will intensify as the funeral approaches, with delegations from 170 countries expected, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William of England, and Spain's royal family, among others.
Reports indicate that a no-fly zone will extend over Vatican City and Rome, while the area around St. Peter's Square will be heavily secured on the day of the funeral, with metal detectors, drones, and military aerial surveillance in place.
According to local sources, snipers, canine units, and explosive detection teams will be deployed on the streets and underground. Military fighter jets are also on standby for emergencies, and devices will be activated to detect hostile drones. Additionally, the presence of river police will be expanded to patrol the Tiber River and its banks, as well as fire brigades.
Security around diplomatic missions and embassies in Rome, which will host the various delegations, will be reinforced, particularly the residence of the U.S. ambassador, where President Trump is expected to stay.
As delegations and faithful arrive, heightened security will also be implemented at Rome's train stations and airports, particularly Fiumicino and Ciampino, with air traffic and runway management adjusted to accommodate the incoming delegations.
Underground, teams from the Public Prevention and Rescue Office will monitor train stations and metro platforms, while the City of Rome has intensified metro and bus services to facilitate access to St. Peter's Basilica.
To complete the security measures, advanced systems have been activated, including a 3D monitoring system that provides a 360-degree view of the areas surrounding St. Peter's Square. This surveillance is managed by the Event Security Management Center.
Another critical security issue will be the procession of the Pope's casket from the Vatican to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will be buried.
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