On Easter Monday, Pope Francis died in Rome aged 88. In Florence, various institutions are remembering the pontiff’s life spent in the service of the Catholic Church and supporting the marginalized.
A black drape is hanging from the balcony in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, which was unfurled on Monday afternoon by the Mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro, the Archbishop of Florence, Gherardo Gambelli, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2024, Chief Rabbi Gabi Piperino and the Imam Izzedin Elzir.
“A loss for all of humanity and for our entire city,” remarks Sara Funaro. “Pope Francis was a messenger of peace. He gave a voice to the marginalized and the invisible. For many, he was a point of reference for Catholics and for everyone else. Florence has always been a city of peace and dialogue. We want this message to be carried forward, and for that I thank the imam and the rabbi for being here.”
Flags were flown at half-mast on the Palazzo Vecchio and all the banners inside were draped in mourning. The great bell of Palazzo Vecchio also tolled in mourning. A vigil was held on Monday night at 9pm at the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata with prayers led by the Archbishop of Florence, who recalled the Pope’s visit to this particular church in Florence in 2015.
The funeral of Pope Francis will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Saturday, April 26.
