As seen from the Charlemagne wing, a terrace overlooking Saint Peter's Square, Rome seems to have regained its long-lost status: that of the center of the world. For at least one day– the day the pope is laid to rest – the world will revolve around the Vatican City, the smallest state on the planet.

The crowd stretches from dawn on Saturday, April 26, along the Via della Conciliazione, spilling out onto Saint Peter's Square. Religious devotees, pilgrims, priests and tourists are of all origins and come from every continent. Some have brought flags.

Closer to the altar where the funeral mass of Pope Francis, who died five days earlier on April 21, is to be celebrated, there is the section where foreign delegations – 160 at the latest count – gradually take their place, seated facing the uniformly red ranks of the cardinals. Although Europe is heavily represented, many Arab, North American, Asian, or African countries have sent their heads of state or government, and sometimes their sovereigns. The selection process was difficult: between three and five seats have been reserved for each delegation, depending on the status (the head of state or prime minister) of the leader. An important former head of state was even denied access due to insufficient seats allotted for his country.

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