Welsh tourists' 'unique' trips after Pope's death

In a sea of pilgrims and tourists in Vatican City, a Welsh football supporter's bucket hat catches the eye.

The Jones family from Llanbrynmair, Powys, arrived in Rome on Monday - their family holiday unexpectedly coinciding with a moment of history.

"All of this is foreign to us," explained Owain, standing alongside wife Rhian and their three children Elsi, Ffion and Gruff, his red, yellow and green hat providing welcome shade from the spring sunshine.

In the Vatican, Sir Keir Starmer and the Prince of Wales were among the 250,000 people in attendance for the Pope's funeral on Saturday morning.

The Jones family's accommodation in Vatican City - the smallest independent state in the world, surrounded completely by Rome - is only a short walk to St Peter's Square.

They arrived bright and early on Wednesday morning to see Pope Francis' open casket being moved to lie in state following his death on Monday.

"Everyone was very quiet until the Pope came around the corner and everyone clapped and paid respect," said Rhian.

"There are so many people here from all over the world. Different countries, different languages... it was quite an experience."

Fr Matt Roche-Saunders, director of priestly vocations and youth mission in the archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, travelled to Rome with a group of young people for this weekend's Jubilee of Teenagers.

The event was still due to take place, the Vatican announced, despite the Pope's death and the Welsh group watched his service.

Fr Roche-Saunders said it was "totally unlike anything I or our young people have ever experienced before" and which gave them a sense of being part of a "global family across the world with the same faith".

"It's so providential," said Fr Roche-Saunders.

"There's something about God's hand at work here to bring together the world of young people which Pope Francis had such a heart for.

"To have the joy of youth and also to have the opportunity to pray about death is a wonderful partnership for joining of things that gives us an opportunity to think about how I live here [on Earth] and how do I prepare for heaven next."

Meanwhile, Welsh couple, Dylan and Megan from Cardiff, got married last weekend and decided on the Eternal City for their honeymoon.

"It's been manic and not what we expected," Dylan explained, before adding they "feel very privileged to be here".

Megan, head of history at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, will return to her Welsh language school in Caerphilly county on Monday with stories of an "extraordinary few days".

The newlyweds queued to see Pope Francis' open coffin at St Peter's Basilica, which Megan said was a "fantastic experience".

She said: "It's been positive and happy. People are here celebrating Pope Francis' life.

"Not everyone can say that they've been to Rome when the Pope has died."

The Prince of Wales and President Trump were among 250,000 people present for the Pontiff's funeral on Saturday.

Photographer Gari Wyn Williams, from Deiniolen, Gwynedd, has lived in Rome for the past 25 years and taken Pope Francis' photo on many occasions.

"I was here for the funeral of John Paul II when he died, and it's an amazing occasion," he said.

He added Pope Francis was "such a jolly man and loved by everyone".

"He loved being in the middle of the people. When he was whizzing about on his Popemobile he would wave, and the smile was genuine.

"He was close to the poor, the needy, and also to the young people. He always had time for everybody. People appreciated that.

"He was the people's Pope".