The Sistine Chapel closes indefinitely: other tourist sites affected by the conclave
Protocols following the death of Pope Francis are still ongoing. The pontiff died last Monday, April 21, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, and his body was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica . From Wednesday the 23rd until the evening of Friday the 25th, the funeral chapel was open, where tens of thousands of faithful gathered to pay their final respects to the Argentine.
The funeral finally took place on Saturday the 26th, attended by around 250,000 people from all over the world. The final step, which will culminate in the election of a new pope, will be the conclave . Although the start date has not yet been set, the closure of the Sistine Chapel , the space where the cardinals meet and vote, has already taken effect.
When does the Sistine Chapel close? And when will it reopen?Although the election of the new pontiff will take place 15 to 20 days after Pope Francis's death, the Directorate of the Vatican Museums and Cultural Heritage announced in a statement that they will be closed starting Monday, April 28, "due to the demands of the conclave."
The closure of this majestic chapel, which receives more than 5 million visitors a year, is indefinite , as the duration of the conclave depends on the results of the cardinals' votes. They will meet in strict secrecy and vote until one candidate reaches two-thirds of the votes, a process that can take several days ( or even years ). Finally, the long-awaited white smoke will signify Habemus Papam .
Since the death of Pope Francis, both Rome and the smaller Vatican City have been affected by large crowds of faithful who have come to pay their respects to the Bishop of Rome. After the funeral, the pontiff's body is now in state at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore , where long lines have formed to enter these days.
On the other hand, not only will the Sistine Chapel remain closed for the conclave, but the Directorate of the Vatican Museums and Cultural Heritage has also announced that all visits to the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis on the Via Triumphalis are suspended for the safety of the cardinals, as they must pass through the gardens to move between the chapel and their accommodations.
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