A red zone with accesses manned by the forces of order, a thousand agents in the field and a ban on flying over the area of Piazza San Pietro.
Everything is ready in the Vatican for the funeral of Benedict XVI, to which
an influx of about 100,000 people is expected tomorrow.
This is what the ordinance of the Capitoline Police Headquarters would provide, which will be signed in the evening.
To access St. Peter's Square, defined as maximum security, it will be necessary to undergo checks with a 'rapiscan' and metal detector.
Pre-filtration will instead be arranged in the surrounding areas.
The no fly zone will be expanded beyond the square.
The presence of helicopters, snipers, special inter-force departments including those of anti-terrorism, firefighters, 118 and local police is arranged.
The roads leading to the Basilica are inaccessible to traffic and law enforcement officers guard the various accesses to the so-called 'red zone'.
It is a buffer area - as defined in the ordinance of the Prefecture of Rome - which extends from via della Conciliazione to piazza Risorgimento.
The sale and transport of glass containers and bottles will also be prohibited here until 2 pm tomorrow, i.e. about three hours after the end of the funeral which will be held in the churchyard of St. Peter's Basilica.
The funeral of Benedict XVI
The access of the faithful will be allowed from both sides of Piazza San Pietro, while the exit lane of the Basilica will be used for the outflow.
Obviously, the whole area has health facilities, with ambulances and 118 stations. 500 Civil Protection volunteers are also employed, who have been available to pilgrims for days to give information on queues and expectations to pay homage to the Pope Emeritus.
Furthermore, for tomorrow, public transport will also be strengthened with two exchange areas, one in Anagnina and one in Laurentina in order to allow pilgrims to reach St. Peter's more easily.
"We are ready for this great devotional event: under the technical direction of the commissioner, all the forces of order and the tested civil protection system will guarantee safety and hospitality for a serene participation in respect of the recollection that will characterize the funeral ceremony", are the reassurances from the director of the Police at the Vatican, Luigi Carnevale.
