People attend a mass presided over by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the second of nine days of mourning for late Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)2025-04-27T08:01:57Z VATICAN CITY (AP) Roman Catholic faithful began visiting the tomb of Pope Francis on Sunday, filing past the simple white tomb in St. Mary Major Basilica a day after he was bade farewell by the powerful of the world and a crowd of hundreds of thousands.A single white rose was placed on the tomb that said Franciscus the popes name in Latin. A light cast its warm glow over the tomb and a reproduction of the late pontiffs pectoral cross on the wall above it. People filed past, many crossing themselves or snapping photos with their phones. Ushers urged them to keep moving to accommodate the thousands who flocked to the Rome basilica to see the tomb, forming a long line outside.Pope Francis for me was an inspiration, a guide, said Elias Caravalhal. Caravalhal lives in Rome but was unable to pay his respects to Francis when the body was lying in state in St. Peters Basilica after his death on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He said he visited the tomb to thank him for what he has done. The tomb was opened on the second of nine days of official mourning for Francis, after which a conclave will be held to elect the next pope.A special Mass was also celebrated in St. Peters Square on Sunday by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state. Parolin is considered a possible contender to be the next pope due to his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. Faithful line up to pay their respects to the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Faithful line up to pay their respects to the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Faithful take images of the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Faithful take images of the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A faithful holds a rose in front of the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A faithful holds a rose in front of the tomb of Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The shepherd whom the Lord gave to his people, Pope Francis, has ended his earthly life and has left us, Parolin said in his homily, delivered on the first Sunday after Easter. The grief at his departure, the sense of sadness that assails us, the turmoil we feel in our hearts, the sense of bewilderment: We are experiencing all of this, like the apostles grieving over the death of Jesus. The Mass was attended by a crowd estimated at 200,000, among them many young people who originally came to Rome for what was supposed to be the canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, during special holy days devoted to teenagers. Many groups of youths, some in scouting uniforms, attended Francis funeral Saturday and again filled St. Peters Square on Sunday.No date has yet been set for the conclave, but it is expected to start between May 5 and May 10. Cardinals who traveled to Rome for Francis funeral will be meeting regularly this week ahead of the conclave as they start to chart a way forward for the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St. Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his humble, simple and essential life, the archbishop who administers the basilica said Friday.Its unbelievable that hes no more with us, said Susmidah Murphy, a tourist from Kerala, India. Its sad that we dont get popes like this very often.