General mourning for Pope Francis took place over three days from the 23rd to the 25th, with reports from CNN stating that on the first day of mourning, some attendees took selfies in front of the pope's coffin, prompting the Vatican to intervene.
Approximately 250,000 people visited St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, where the body of Pope Francis was laid in state during the general mourning. To pay their last respects, people stood in line for hours, praying and mourning in front of the body placed in the coffin.
However, according to footage taken on the first day of general mourning, the 23rd, some mourners tried to take photos of the pope by raising their mobile phones high, CNN reported. There were even individuals who paused in front of the coffin to pose for selfies. After their videos were posted on TikTok, comments flooded in saying, "It's so disrespectful."
The Vatican ultimately instructed visitors starting from the second day of general mourning on the 24th to put away their mobile phones and refrain from taking pictures while passing in front of the pope's coffin.
According to guidelines published by the Vatican in 1996, taking photos of the pope's "sickbed or posthumous images" is prohibited unless approved by the head of the Vatican's secretariat for documentary purposes.
However, with advancements in technology and the widespread adoption of smartphones, we have entered an era where almost everyone carries a camera. CNN assessed that issues may arise between the solemnity of mourning a public figure's death and the opportunity to personally capture a moment in history.
Pope Francis, who passed away at 7:35 a.m. on the 21st, entered eternal rest surrounded by about 250,000 mourners on the 26th.