Rome [Italy], April 24: Strict military and security defense mechanisms have been deployed throughout Rome as authorities expect hundreds of thousands of people to arrive in the Italian capital for the funeral of Pope Francis
Despite Pope Francis' wish for a simple funeral, those responsible for organizing the farewell event for Rome's 266th bishop still face challenges related to logistics, engineering and security, according to The Guardian newspaper on April 23.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said authorities were preparing to welcome between 150 and 170 foreign delegations to the pope's funeral, which took place outdoors in St. Peter's Square on April 26, along with a crowd of about 200,000 people.
World heads of state also attended, including US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Crown Prince William.
There is no doubt that Rome is entering a period of extreme tension.
According to the Corriere della Serra newspaper, advanced military and security defense mechanisms are being deployed throughout Rome and over the Italian capital, including anti-drone weapons, no-fly zones patrolled by fighters, and sophisticated wave-breaking technologies.
Counter-terrorism and counter-sabotage units also received orders to deploy ground patrols.
St. Peter's Basilica, where the mausoleum is located, and the surrounding area are being protected by more than 2,000 police officers from now until the end of the Conclave of Cardinals, the election of the new pope. In addition, the traffic police force consists of 400 people to support the travel schedule of diplomatic missions.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
