Fighter jets, police sniper units on standby ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral

A massive security operation is underway as Rome prepares to welcome the first heads of state ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral mass. Follow updates.

A huge security mission is underway in Rome with a no-fly zone in place, fighter jets on standby, police sniper units on rooftops ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday.

The world’s key leaders will be in attendance at his funeral mass which is expected to draw more than 200,000 people to the Vatican.

Prince William, US President Donald Trump, Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will be among the many VIPs to attend the 88-year-old pontiff’s funeral at St Peter’s Basilica from 10am Saturday (6pm AEST).

The first heads of state were expected to arrive late on Friday (Saturday morning AEST).

Police presence has ramped up at the Vatican. Picture: AFP

Visitors and mourners queue along a road leading to St Peter's Square. Picture: AFP

Police sniper units are positioned on rooftops dotted along the Via della Conciliazione leading up to St Peter’s Square, and soldiers are patrolling the streets holding huge anti-drone guns.

The police presence around the Vatican has also significantly increased in the days leading up to the funeral, with security checkpoints in place in the surrounding streets.

Many visitors have been diverted to other areas of Rome to access St Peter’s Square which has been flooded by worshippers and tourists since the death of Francis on Monday.

Security surrounding the open air funeral will be “intense” as multiple federal agencies work to ensure the safety of royalty and world leaders attending, including Mr Trump, who has already been the target of two assassination attempts in the last year.

Around 50,000 people attended the funeral of Pope Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict, in January 2023, but officials believe this will be bigger.

The funeral which will be televised around the world and is expected to draw a huge audience including many of the 1.24 billion Catholics.

More than 4000 media have descended on Vatican City to report on the funeral.

The weather conditions are expected to be perfect on Saturday at Vatican City - sunny and a high of 23 degrees.

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Originally published as Fighter jets, police sniper units on standby ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral