They came from all over the world and got into St. Piotr, to hear Pope Francis, who an appeal for peace at Easter. A day later, the Vatican announced that he was dead.
Tourists and pilgrims who came to Rome for a holy week were stunned on Monday about Francis's death, in the morning after his Papemobile opened through the crowds, cheering “Viva il Papa!” On the Holy Day of Christianity.
Reverend Bachai, a retired priest from the United States, who was in Rome for a holy week, compared the pain of the Pope's sudden death to a bruise.
“Yesterday he appeared in public (Sunday), he looked healthy. I was so shocked and of course sad,” he said.
“It's very sad,” said CBC Ida Marie, who traveled from Denmark to Rome. “We were here yesterday and we saw him living, and he smiled, so we were very surprised when we heard this message today. It seemed that it was right to come back and submit respect.”
Sue Rak, visiting Rome from Ghana with her husband and child, said she believed that Francis “wants to know God.”
“Let him rest in peace. He did well in the world,” she said. “He wanted to protect the weak.”
The atmosphere of mourning gradually filtered in the square, when the news sank with both tourists and the Romans who enjoyed Monday Easter holidays. At noon the bells of St. Piotr got in mourning and the silence came down to the crowd.
“We saw him here, he just ran him in the car. It was a shocking news this morning,” said Letizia Bartocci, who works in a jewelry store a short distance from the square.
The death of Francis was a “real surprise” for sister Alicia Rios, who comes from Mexico.
“I was blessed that I came here and pray for his soul, and thank him for everything he did for us,” said CBC News.
Although “very sad” it is to hear about his death, she added, some of her feelings “in a sense, also happy because we knew he was suffering from his health.
“We only hope that so many people pray for him and we appreciate everything he has done for us.”
“It really strikes you hard,” said Emanuel Tinari, who comes from Rome and was with her boyfriend, Gianmarco Oomiccioli. “He was a pope who brought so many people to the church.”
Frank Lavis Tournet, who visited the French island of Corsica, said he was moved in Rome on the day of the Pope's death.
“Today I see a sign of Christian religion that Pope Francis has died today and went to heaven. I believe that this is a strong sign of Christian faith.”