The highest political and institutional offices went to the funeral chamber set up at Palazzo Madama, the Senate's seat, yesterday morning to pay their last respects to Senator Giorgio Napolitano, President Emeritus of the Republic, who died on Friday, at 7.45 p.m., at the Salvator Mundi clinic on the Gianicolo in Rome. Surprisingly, the Pope also arrived late in the morning: the Holy Father entered the Nasiriyah room on a wheelchair provided by Senate clerks. Citizens' visits were halted during the pontiff's stay. It is the first time that Pope Francis has crossed the threshold of the Senate. "I came here not only to pay homage to Napolitano, but to all Italians," said the Supreme Father, according to Ignazio La Russa, president of Palazzo Madama. Prior to this, even the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, had reached his predecessor's funerary chamber. Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura, entertained Napolitano's kids Giulio and Giovanni, next to his wife Clio, sitting on a wheelchair. He then began to reflect in front of the casket. Before it was Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's turn, she had a lengthy conversation with President Emeritus' youngest son Giulio. Meloni's visit coincided with that of Mario Draghi, his predecessor at Palazzo Chigi. Among those who have visited Palazzo Madama are Mario Monti, Elly Schlein, Pierferdinando Casini, Gianfranco Fini, Alain Elkann, Rutelli, and Palombelli. And again, Vittorio Sgarbi and Marcello Pera, Lina Sastri, and Giuseppe Conte, the five-star leader. (Photo by presidenti.quirinale.it)