Security Forces Hold Patrols In The Tiber River To Drones To Secure Pope Francis' Funeral

Pope Francis' body is buried in St. Peter's Basilica. (Source: Vatican News)

JAKARTA - Patrols in the Tiber River to reconnaissance drones and snipers deployed around St. Peter's Square, Vatican, are preparing to install a truly modern security shield around Pope Francis' funeral and the crowd accompanying him.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral, which will take place on Saturday in the large Vatican square in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the Rome public transport company said.

Among them there will be dozens of world leaders - including heads of state such as US President Donald Trump and aristocrats from Spain, Sweden and Belgium.

Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, EU agencies, to Pope Francis' country of origin, Argentina, have also confirmed their presence.

"The most complicated aspect is the arrival of many high-ranking officials from around the world, who will gather in Rome to go to one place," Roma police chief Roberto Massucci told RTL 102.5 radio on Thursday.

About 2,000 local police officers will be on duty, joining thousands of other officers from national security forces. Security measures will include patrols on the Tiber River, drones, military equipment to neutralize enemy flying objects and snipers, a police source told Reuters.

The streets will be closed to traffic around the Vatican on Saturday and authorities are assessing the best route for a procession that will carry the coffin from the cemetery to the Basilica Kepausan Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major), where Pope Francis chose to be buried.

Tens of thousands of mourners have come to St. Peter's Basilica since Pope Francis' body was buried on Wednesday. Security officers patrolled St. Peter's Square on Thursday as people lined up to enter the basilica.

Pope Francis' funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time on Saturday.

Head of the National Department of Civil Protection Fabio Ciciliano said people might gather not only in St. Peter's Square but also along the 4 km (2.5 miles) separating the Vatican from Santa Maria Maggiore, on the other side of the Tiber River.

Authorities, who on Monday announced a no-fly zone over the capital this week, must regulate the flow of VIP jets and state aircraft landing at Rome airport for the event.

"Some delegates want to stay in Rome for some time, others, most of whom we list at the moment, will leave soon after the funeral," CiciLANo said, stressing the difficulty of handling so many arrivals and departures.

He said Pratica's military airport in Mare, south of Rome, would be a reserve for two airports in the cities of Fiumicino and Ciampino if needed.

Meanwhile, the national rail company will add about 260,000 seats for its trains to the capital, the Civil Protection Department said, while airport operators in the city of ADR estimate that another 20,000 people will arrive in Rome compared to previous estimates made for the Easter holidays.