The death of Pope Francis will begin at the beginning of a year’s history of the new leader who chose the Roman Catholic Church, while travel agencies are ready to adjust the closed itinerary for closures while enabling travelers to witness historic events.
Pope Francis died on April 21 the day after Easter Sunday. He is 88 years old.
After confirming the death of the Pope, his body will be exhibited so that the public can pay tribute to the public and be buried before the funeral. Kevin Joseph Farrell, the outstanding bishop of Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, will preside over the ceremony of proclaiming death and place Francis’ body in a coffin on Monday night.
The official mourning period will last for 9 days, during which Perillo Tour President Steve Perillo said St. Peter’s Basilica is expected to remain open, although the company is awaiting official confirmation from the Vatican. Perillo, a travel agency dedicated to Italy, will host “many travelers in Rome” in the coming weeks, Perillo said.
A papal meeting in the church is a gathering of the most senior leaders in the church, called the Cardinal College, which will choose the next pope. It is not clear when the Cardinal will meet, but the meeting was quick within 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s seat was evacuated.
The Cardinal will quarantine himself in the sealed door of the Sistine Church until the new pope is chosen, a process that usually takes several days. James Ridgway, CEO of Christian Travel Experts, says ET.
“Historically, during the death of the Pope – as we have experienced firsthand during the death of Pope John II, travelers witnessed profound moments of history,” Ridgeway said. “While some locations around St. Peter’s Basilica and certain locations around the Vatican City experienced closed or restricted access, many travelers were able to attend public gatherings, memorials and prayer services, creating meaningful experiences.”
Ridgeway said he hopes to provide a similar opportunity to honor the events held by Pope Francis. He warned that while he does not want a complete shutdown outside Vatican City, travelers “should prepare for possible disruptions or increase crowds in the surrounding area.”
EF World Journey Said Sistine Church will be “100% closed during the meeting”.
A company spokesman said EF provided guidance group trips for multiple brands, “this moment has been preparing for the health of recent months.” Despite the historic nature of the Pope’s death, the company expects little disruption to the trip.
“Rome is usually busy around Easter and we expect a population increase in the coming days,” the spokesperson said. “The national holiday may be announced and we are maintaining close contact with suppliers in Rome to monitor further developments.”
Perillo Tours is in contact with local employees and partners to better understand the impact of Francis’ death on the company’s business, Perillo said. He said the Vatican Museum is expected to remain open during the conference.
“Although this is a unique time, we are closely monitoring the situation and working with local teams to maintain the planned itinerary as much as possible,” said Steve Perillo.
Vatican crowds are expected
Travelers should prepare for the large crowds around St. Peter’s Square through Della Conciliazione and Central Rome. Ridgway said access to the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as nearby Colosseum and other landmarks could be affected for several days.
“However, during the previous Pope transition, Rome was still very easy to obtain in general, and many travelers found it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the spiritual heart of the Catholic faith in a profound way,” the CEO said.
The death of Pope Francis was within the Catholic Jubilee (Catholic Jubilee), a quarterly tradition that marked a special time for the renewal of the Catholic spirit. The theme of Jubilee 2025 begins on Christmas Day and ends with an epiphany on January 6, 2026, and is a “pilgrim of hope”.
In a statement Monday, the Vatican said it would suspend the Eucharist celebration scheduled for April 27, a celebration for the jubilation of teenagers, an event for young Catholics.
According to the U.S. Embassy and Italian Consulate, about 60 million people visit Italy each year, and the Jubilee is expected to attract 32 million tourists to Rome. The death of Pope Francis could lead to a surge in tourists who want to pay tribute to the late Pope and observe traditions and rituals related to the death of Roman Catholic Church leaders.
The last Pope to die was Pope Benedict XVI, who died on January 31, 2022, but had evacuated the Pope’s seat before his death. Pope John Paul II was the last death in 2005 while on the Pope’s seat.
Instead of being buried in the Vatican grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis expressed his willingness to be buried in the Pope Cathedral of St. Mary’s Basilica, a traditional breakthrough.
Maria Jose Merino, Vice President of Operations and Product Development Central Holidaychurches such as the Basilica of San Giovanni in Lewerano and the Basilica of Saint Paul may see an increase in crowds. At present, the Central Holiday has not made any changes to its itinerary.
Communication with customers is key
Steven Gould, Chief Innovation Officer, Travel Consultant Resource Center, and President and CEO Gould Travel In Clearwater, Florida, information about traveling to Rome in the coming days and weeks, his travel consultant sells European group on Facebook.
“Whether your clients are religious or not, if they travel to Rome (especially within the next 40 days), remind them that travelers will flood in…probably more than initially expected from Jubilee.”
Gould said the Pope’s death is expected to attract thousands of tourists and locals to Rome.
“The Vatican Square will be very satisfied, but for those interested, it can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Gould said.
Gould recommends positive communication with clients.
“Don’t stress or panic your clients, but educate them,” he said.
Jamie Biesiada contributed to the report.
