Bookings to Rome surged 400 per cent since Pope Francis‘ death, as thousands of UK mourners set out on their plans to pay their respects to the pontiff.
The Holy Father, who died aged 88 on Monday at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican, ‘passed away peacefully,’ according to his doctors.
La Repubblica and La Stampa claimed that Francis died due to a ‘cerebral hemorrhage’, possibly a stroke, which was said to be unrelated to the respiratory problems and pneumonia he suffered in February.
His body now lies in state in St Peter’s Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome on Saturday, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.
Mourners from across globe have already started flocking to St Peter’s Square in Vatican City as the Argentine pontiff’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from members of the Catholic church.
Now, thousands of Catholics from all corners of the UK are preparing to make the journey across Europe to witness the momentous funeral and Conclave process.
Holiday comparison site, On the Beach, saw an unprecedented rise in bookings to Rome on Monday, just hours after the ‘People’s Pope’ passed away.
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach said: ‘The Pope’s passing prompted a outpouring of grief around the world and what followed was a flurry of bookings to Rome.
Bookings to Rome surged 400 per cent since Pope Francis passed, as thousands of UK mourners set out on their plans to pay their respects to the pontiff
Mourners from across globe have already began flocking to St Peter’s Square in Vatican City as the pontiff’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from members of the Catholic church
Thousands of Catholics from all corners of the UK are preparing to make the journey across Europe to witness the momentous funeral and Conclave process
‘With the Pope’s burial due on Saturday and the historic process of the conclave beginning in two weeks’ time, we know that people will want to be in the heart of Italy for this historic moment.’
She added: ‘We’re expecting bookings to rise a further over the next 48 hours following Tuesday’s confirmation of dates of service.’
On Tuesday, the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis’s funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Saturday at 10am local time.
St. Peter’s Square will remain open for those travelling to the Italian capital, but large crowds and media will be in attendance in the piazza for the duration of the Conclave process.
The Conclave will see cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to select who will next become pope, though the process will not take place for at least two weeks.
Holiday comparison site, On the Beach, saw an unprecedented rise in bookings to Rome on Monday, just hours after the ‘People’s Pope’ passed away
St. Peter’s Square will remain open for those travelling to the Italian capital this Saturday, but large crowds and media will be in attendance in the piazza for the duration of the Conclave process
For those who wish to see the smoke from the chapel, it will appear twice daily, with the first taking place around noon after the first two ballots, and later between 4pm and 5pm
Pictured: Faithful attend an evening Rosary held in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican on April 21, 2025 in suffrage for Pope Francis
The Pope’s body now lies in state in St Peter’s Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome on Saturday
For those who wish to see the smoke from the chapel, it will appear twice daily, with the first taking place around noon after the first two ballots, and later between 4pm and 5pm after the final round of voting.
On the Beach offers four nights in the Fragrance St Peter Hotel, which overlooks St Peter’s, for just £480pp, with flights leaving from Manchester on Friday.
For those heading out to witness the historic Conclave, four nights from Friday 9 May, including flights and staying in the Belstay Roma Aurelia costs just £340pp.
It comes after it was revealed in an essay that Pope Francis did not fear death, but instead welcomed the ‘new beginning’ of eternal life with God.
Francis had reflected on death on February 7 this year as he penned a preface for Cardinal Angelo Scola’s new book, titled ‘Awaiting a New Beginning. Reflections on Old Age’.
‘Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something,’ the pontiff wrote in the preface, which released by the Vatican today.
