Top secret military unit to guard skies above Rome during Pope Francis’s funeral

A secretive military unit specialising in drone warfare will be deployed to monitor the sky over Rome and the Vatican during the funeral procession of Pope Francis.

As thousands of mourners descend on St Peter’s Square, Italian authorities are enacting one of the most complex operations in recent Vatican history.

The threat level has quietly been elevated – though not officially – which has prompted a series of heightened security measures across the capital.

Among them is a special unit trained in drone reconnaissance operations typically used in conflict zones.

Franco Fantozzi, senior security adviser at International SOS, revealed to Metro that they will be watching the Italian airspace for potential threats on Saturday.

‘I cannot name the unit – and they are secretive – so they don’t even have a name within the military, but they will be watching the sky for drones,’ he said.

Airspace in Rome and Vatican closed

He also said that a ban on flights of any aircraft will be introduced during the farewell to the pontiff.

With more than 30 years of experience in the Carabinieri, with command roles in units involved in the fight against organised crime and terrorism, Fantozzi can get inside the mind of those policing the Vatican and Rome during the period of religious uncertainty.

Alongside a watchful eye on the sky, authorities will be monitoring River Tiber that flows through the capital and focusing on the crowds made up of pilgrims and tourists.

Security challenges ahead of funeral

Fantozzi stressed that there are several factors raising the threat level – including the timing, as the pope died on Easter Monday, and the overflow of tourists in Rome.

But this time the security challenge also extends beyond the borders of the Vatican.

Unlike his predecessors, Francis will not be laid to rest beneath St Peter’s Basilica in a break with centuries of tradition that represents his legacy as a more liberal leader.

His remains will instead be transported to the Basilica of St Mary Major, on the Esquiline Hill, near Termini train station.

This unusual final journey has triggered additional planning for the various police powers that are taking part in the operation.

Though Italian authorities have not shared official numbers yet, Fantozzi said that thousands more officers – including plainclothes officers will be deployed in the days leading up to the funeral.

This does not seem like an exaggeration as the parametre surrounding the Vatican is already swarmed with officers.

So is virtually every major intersection in Rome, turning traffic into a long nightmare.

This also means that every step during Francis’ last journey will be under the watch of Vatican Gendarmerie, the Swiss Guard, and elite Italian units.

Currently, the Italian government has the threat level of a terrorist attack in Italy as ‘medium/high’, also known as Level 2.

Past incidents during papal funerals

While there have been no such incidents during papal funerals in recent memory, the risk profile is always high.

The funeral of Pope John Paul II in April 2005 drew more than four million people to Rome and was one of the largest gatherings of heads of state outside the UN.

Security appeared watertight, but about three hours after the funeral, an Italian F-16 fighter jet intercepted a suspicious plane heading to Rome’s Ciampino airport.

The aircraft was forced to land after intelligence sources warned it was carrying a bomb, but this later proved false.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.