Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, was laid to rest on Saturday in a funeral that attracted thousands of people from around the world.
The funeral Mass, held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, began at 10 a.m. local time (9 am GMT+1) and drew over 250,000 mourners, including heads of state and religious leaders.
Dignitaries in attendance included U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, among others.
Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, led the country’s delegation to the funeral on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presiding over the funeral Mass, delivered a sermon that reflected Pope Francis’ ideology; his compassion for migrants, commitment to peace, and calls for urgent action on climate change.
After the Mass and final prayers, the simple wooden coffin bearing the inscription “Franciscus” in line with the late Pope’s wishes was carried in procession through the streets of Rome.
Pope Francis had requested not to be buried within the Vatican but instead at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he prayed before and after his apostolic journeys.
Cardinal Re’s sermon included a reminder of Francis’ call to “build bridges, not walls,” referencing the late pope’s frequent criticisms of President Trump’s immigration policies.
Re stressed that Francis’ legacy must guide not only political leaders but also the 135 cardinals tasked with selecting the next pope.
In a solemn and orderly ceremony filled with Latin chants and ancient rites, the Catholic Church said farewell to the first Latin American pope, whose 12-year pontificate profoundly shaped modern Catholicism.
As Pope Francis’ coffin was moved into the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Cardinal Re reflected on how he “touched minds and hearts” across the globe.
