Rome armoured for the funeral of Pope Francis: unprecedented inter-force security device
The 26 April 2025 will be a date that will go down in history. It is the day on which the world bids farewell to Pope Francisin the majestic setting of St Peter's Square. But it is not only spirituality that dominates these hours: the security machine is moving with surgical precision to ensure a world-class event in total protection.
For days, images of armed soldiers with strange rifles have aroused curiosity: these are the so-called anti-drone bazookaadvanced defence systems adopted at very high-risk events, just like this one.
The 'bazookas' that neutralise drones
Their technical name is Unmanned Aerial System Countermeasurebut to everyone they are the 'anti-drone bazookas'. They do not fire bullets, but radio waves that can inhibit communication between the drone and its pilotmaking it ungovernable or forcing it into a controlled landing.
The device - often resembling a futuristic rifle - not a traditional weapon of warbut an instrument of electronic defence. It is able to detect drone control frequencies and interrupt them in real time, preventing unauthorised aerial filming or - in the worst case scenario - air strikes using kamikaze drones or explosive loads.
This is not the first time these systems have been used: already in 2021 the Italian Air Force used them in Qatar, during the Arab Cup, e in 2023 appeared during the Ukrainian president's visit to Rome Volodymyr Zelensky. Today, however, their use is massive and systematic as never before in Italy.
International participation will be impressive: confirmed attendance of royals of Spain e Belgiumof the British Premier Keir Starmerof the Prince Williamof the US President Donald Trumpof the German Chancellor Olaf Scholzof the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniof the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with his wife, and even the Vice-President of Taiwan.
There will be noinstead, Vladimir Putin (who will send the Minister of Culture) and Benjamin Netanyahu.
The C-UAS Task Force and the control of sensitive areas
The andti-drone systems are managed by an Italian Defence Task Force, called C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial System). They are specially trained military personnel for airspace control in urban, crowded and complex scenarios such as St. Peter's.
Many of them move with handheld controllers e special backpacks powering the devices, to ensure the maximum mobility in a crowd. The aim: to intervene promptly in the event of suspicious overflights.
In addition to manual devices, they are also operational mobile units mounted on military vehiclescapable of covering larger areas. The law enforcement, the counter-terrorism unit, i snipers and the secret service complete a complex defence apparatus but at the same time meticulously planned.
The numbers of an unprecedented event
According to what was communicated from Fabio Ciciliano, coordinator of security activities, will be thousands the operators involved:
- 3,000 Civil Defence volunteers
- 2,000 law enforcement officers, armed forces personnel and firefighters
- 55 health teams
- 52 additional ambulances
- 11 advanced medical stations
- 170 foreign delegations
- 200,000 believers expected for the ceremony alone, not counting the pilgrims from the previous days
- 1,500 requests for accreditation by journalists from all over the world
Le State Railways have already made available 260,000 seatswhile the private, commercial and state flights They will fly to Fiumicino, Ciampino and even Pratica di Mare to facilitate the arrival of the delegations.
The Prefecture of Rome also ordered a no-fly zone extended over the entire capital citystarting as early as 23 April. The C-UAS systems are ready for action in case someone attempts an unauthorised overflight anyway.
They will be placed maxi-screens in Via della Conciliazione, Piazza Pia and Piazzale Risorgimento to allow those present to follow the ceremony even outside the square, which had been full for hours. I pedestrian flows will be managed with millimetre precision to avoid overcrowding or criticality.
A procession between security and devotion
After the funeral, the body of Pope Francis will be carried in procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Majorwhere he will be buried next to the Pauline Chapelone of the places dearest to him.
The procession will pass through the heart of the historic centre of Rome, with fenced and guarded routes. The forces of order will guarantee the safety of the faithful and authorities throughout the journey. An event that will be at the same time liturgy and logistics, spirituality and strategyand which requires the maximum attention by the security apparatus.
The final farewell to Pope Francis is not only a religious and symbolic event: it is an extraordinary test case for Italian security. The use of advanced technologies such as anti-drone systems, the logistical coordination of thousands of operators, diplomatic attention and Rome's reception capacity show the modern and capable face of our country.
An armoured city, yes, but ready to open up to the world for the last embrace to the Pope from the end of the world.
Published by Condoralex
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
