The number of Irish people booking trips to Rome has soared by 100% following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21.
"The Pope’s passing prompted an outpouring of grief around the world and what followed was a flurry of bookings to Rome," Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, told Ireland's Travel Trade Network (ITTN) on Thursday.
“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.
“We’re expecting bookings to rise further over the next 24 hours following Tuesday’s confirmation of dates of service.”
Among the Irish people heading to Rome in the coming days are President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and Tánaiste Simon Harris, who the Department of Foreign Affairs says will "represent Ireland" at the funeral on Saturday.
On Thursday, BBC News Northern Ireland reported that Michelle O'Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, had cut short a family holiday in the hope of attending the funeral on Saturday.
Her attendance has not been officially confirmed, BBC News NI noted, but it is understood talks are taking place to secure an official invite.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will not be attending the funeral.
A slew of other world leaders are set to attend the funeral Mass, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and US President Donald Trump.
While the funeral Mass for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday morning, tens of thousands have already flocked to St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Francis lies in state.
Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists on Thursday that from the time Pope Francis' coffin arrived at St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday and 1 pm local time on Thursday, some 61,000 had already paid their respects.
The Holy See press office had originally said St. Peter's Basilica would remain open from 11 am to midnight on Wednesday; however, according to Vatican News on Thursday morning, it ended up remaining open until 5:30 am due to crowds, closing for just an hour and a half before reopening.
Pope Francis will lie in state until Friday evening, at which point his coffin will be sealed in a rite led by Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, a native of Dublin.
April 23, 2025: Dublin native Camerlengo Kevin Farrell holds incense next to Pope Francis' coffin at the Basilica at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Vatican. (Getty Images)
The funeral Mass for Pope Francis will be held at 10 am on Saturday on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican has confirmed.
Afterward, the coffin of Pope Francis will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica, and from there, to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial, as per the Pope's indications.
According to Reuters, Rome's public transport company said that more than 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral, taking place on Saturday in the huge Vatican square that sits in front of the Basilica of St. Peter.
While the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private, a rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major at 9 pm on Saturday.
The Vatican has confirmed that from Sunday morning, visits will be permitted to the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
Meanwhile, a livestream of the Vatican continues to show the huge crowds:
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