In the heart of Vatican City, amid solemn prayers and the quiet shuffle of 50,000 mourners, a modern controversy has erupted. As the world gathered to honor the late Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday, many came not just with flowers and prayers—but with smartphones in hand. The sacred ritual of the Pope’s lying-in-state has taken an unexpected turn, igniting fury among mourners and religious observers over what some are calling a display of “ghoulish selfie culture.”
Photos showing visitors taking selfies with Pope Francis’ open casket have gone viral, sparking heated debates about respect, grief, and the intrusive role of social media in sacred spaces. In this SEO-optimized article, we explore the public outcry, the ethical concerns, and what this incident tells us about mourning in the digital age.
📌 Explore more about the Pope’s funeral rites and public viewings via Vatican News.
Pope Francis’ Death and Global Mourning
Pope Francis, a spiritual giant and reformist leader, was beloved across the globe for his progressive views, advocacy for the poor, and gentle demeanor. His passing marks the end of a significant era in Catholic leadership.
Following his death on Easter Monday, the Vatican moved swiftly to prepare for the three-day lying-in-state ritual. The Pope’s body was transferred to Saint Peter’s Basilica where it lay in a wooden casket, dressed in traditional papal robes, allowing the faithful to bid farewell.
Over 50,000 mourners streamed through the basilica on the first day alone, with numbers expected to swell throughout the week. Many wept, prayed, and silently honored the memory of a pontiff who touched millions.
📌 For more details on the Pope’s legacy, visit Catholic News Agency.
A Sacred Tradition Disrupted: The Lying-in-State
The lying-in-state ceremony is one of the most sacred and solemn traditions in the Catholic Church. It allows the public to pay their respects to the Pope while reflecting on his life and teachings. The atmosphere is meant to be contemplative, reverent, and peaceful.
But in an age where documentation is instantaneous and social media thrives on shareable content, the boundaries between personal remembrance and public performance have become blurred. As mourners quietly passed by the Pope’s casket, others posed, snapped, and shared images with the body of the pontiff visible in the background.
This behavior, although legal, has been widely condemned as inappropriate and disrespectful, especially within the religious setting of St. Peter’s Basilica.
📌 Read more on Catholic funeral customs from USCCB.
Selfie Culture at the Vatican: What Happened?
Eyewitnesses described scenes of disbelief and disgust as some visitors to the basilica paused to take selfies or ask friends to snap pictures of them with the Pope’s casket. Images shared online show mourners smiling beside the coffin, or even using selfie sticks to get wider shots of the scene.
One particularly controversial photo showed a visitor making a peace sign beside the open casket, which quickly went viral and drew thousands of angry comments. Others used hashtags to post about their “experience,” treating the spiritual moment more like a tourist attraction than a farewell to a global religious leader.
This influx of content on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook ignited outrage from traditional Catholics, Vatican officials, and members of the public who viewed the act as tasteless.
📌 Track ongoing public response on Twitter.
5. Why the Outrage? Understanding the Backlash
So why exactly did this spark such a massive backlash?
1. Sacredness of the Setting
St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t just any location—it’s one of the most sacred sites in Christianity. Taking selfies in this space, particularly next to a deceased religious leader, violates deep-seated norms about reverence and decorum.
2. Perception of Disrespect
For many, death should be treated with dignity. Smiling photos next to a dead body, even if it belongs to a public figure, seem flippant or exploitative.
3. Cultural Insensitivity
Different cultures treat death and mourning differently. In the West, particularly in religious contexts, mourning is typically somber. The digital documentation of grief can seem alien—or offensive.
Martin and Catherine Gilsenan from Wimbledon called it “disgusting” and “inhumane,” expressing anger that people were treating a funeral as a photo opportunity. “It’s not a concert. It’s not a celebrity meet and greet. It’s the Pope, for God’s sake,” Martin said to GB News.
📌 Explore commentary on funeral ethics at The Conversation.
