Mourners express outrage as visitors take photos of late Pope Francis
Crowds gathered to say goodbye, but many were upset by what they saw inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis passed away at 88 years old, and thousands of mourners traveled to St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects — but many were left furious after seeing people take pictures of the late pontiff.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was a pope who made history. As the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, he spent 12 years working to modernize traditions while still respecting faith and spirituality. His passing on Monday, April 21, 2025, left millions grieving worldwide.
For three days, mourners had the chance to visit his simple wooden casket at St. Peter’s Basilica before his funeral on Saturday. Over 150,000 people lined up for hours, many overwhelmed with emotion. But while the gathering was meant to be a peaceful time of remembrance, it became a scene of frustration for some visitors.
Many mourners were shocked and upset to see others using their phones to take photos and selfies in front of the late pope’s body — something they felt was deeply disrespectful.
Social media users are receiving backlash for posting selfies with Pope Francis’ body in his open casket. Some people even tried using selfie sticks but were told to put them away 👀😳pic.twitter.com/fKKr5VToNE
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) April 24, 2025
“You’ve got to put that in your memory, not take a photo”
Martin and Catherine Gilsenan from London were among those who felt disheartened. They had also paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II when she lay in state in 2022 and were disappointed by the behavior they witnessed in Rome.
“I found the mobile phones very distasteful,” Catherine told the Mirror. “I was very surprised there were photos.”
Martin added, “People were being asked to put their selfie sticks away when they got to the front. We kept our phones in our pockets and spent quiet time reflecting.”
Similar feelings were shared by Maureen and Ian Cesari from Toowoomba, Australia. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Maureen said, “It’s disrespectful and creepy. You’ve got to put that in your memory, not take a photo.”
In response to the growing frustration, guards eventually banned photography inside the Basilica on Thursday, asking visitors to show respect by keeping their phones away.
Pope Francis’s legacy of humility
Pope Francis lived simply — and wished for a simple death. Unlike many popes before him, he chose not to be buried in the Vatican but at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. He requested no elaborate tomb, only a plain grave marked with the name “Franciscus.”
Throughout his life, Francis became known as a “people’s pope.” He pushed the Catholic Church toward caring for the environment, supporting immigrants, and speaking against injustice. Yet he also faced controversy, especially for how he initially handled the Church’s sexual abuse scandals, later admitting and apologizing for his mistakes.
One British mourner said the atmosphere was being ruined by people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying proper respects. #DailyExpress https://t.co/VrpPn5Rddp pic.twitter.com/e7bBz4XaJU
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) April 24, 2025
Even at the end, he asked for humility and love over grandeur and fame.
A moment meant for reflection
The anger over photos at Pope Francis’s viewing is about more than just phone etiquette — it shows how different people mourn and what they believe is sacred. For many Catholics and visitors, seeing Pope Francis one last time was a personal, emotional experience, not something to be captured for social media.
In a world where sharing every moment online feels normal, moments like this ask us to pause: Should some memories stay just in our hearts?
As Pope Francis himself often reminded us — it’s not about being seen; it’s about being present.
