The security measures for the funeral of Pope Francis planned for Saturday will be different from everything Rome has seen in living memory.
Thousands of police will be deployed for funerals, with reinforcements arriving from several Italian regions. It is before considering the security services provided by the 130 foreign delegations.
The area around the Holy See and along the funeral procession route will be protected by a complete security presence covering threats from air, land and sea: a destructive of the navy near the capital, Eurofighter jets of Italian air, radar installations and anti-drone systems.
In case of observations of unauthorized aircraft, innovative devices will be used to disrupt their communications.
A shielded St Peter's
The area of St Peter's Square will be fortified, with preventive soil clearance and Drones at the Questura to guarantee a view of the bird's eyes with 3D images.
The urban quadrant around the basilica will be divided into five safety zones. Elite shooters will be deployed at the top of the buildings; You will find below the skips for the elimination of bombs, canine units, the river police patrolling the Tiber and the quays and the brigade units of the firefighters prepared to counter nuclear, bacteriological, chemical and radiological threats.
At midnight on Saturday, a “green zone” will start to operate, with measures prohibiting demonstrations and the transport of dangerous goods.
After the funeral, the procession will leave for Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis will be buried. Contrary to what has been reported in recent days, however, the procession will not go to Saint-Pierre square.
Its 6 km trip will take about half an hour, leaving via the Porta del Perugino, then according to the route indicated by the Questura.
The route follows in part the old via Papalis, which the popes traveled in procession after their election and their consecration in Saint-Pierre to reach the Lateran basilica, seat of the episcopal chair.
Along the way, the coffin of Pope Francis will pass symbolic places such as Colosseum, which hosts the traditional celebration of via Crucis on Good Friday and Piazza Venezia.
The medical plan
In addition to the security agreements, there is also a health strategy organized by the Lazio region.
Ambulances, medical points and rescue teams will be deployed from Saint-Pierre to Santa Maria Maggiore, as well as in metro stations and the most congested areas. Coordination is entrusted to Ares 118, the regional emergency company.
Six advanced medical stations will be installed in the areas that will be the most crowded between Saint-Pierre, Castel Sant'ango and Piazza Risorgimento.
Psychological assistance units and a unidec team for the decontamination of chemical agents will also be operational, as well as 80 -foot teams and 13 ambulances.
