Funeral of Pope Francis: A Sea of Mourners in Rome for a Final Farewell

Pope Francis has been laid to rest. On Saturday, April 26, 2025, over 250,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome for his grand funeral ceremony, attended by a host of world leaders and royalty. Having passed away on Easter Monday from a stroke at the age of 88, Francis was remembered as “a pope close to the people, with a heart open to all,” especially “the most vulnerable,” according to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during his homily.

Procession of World Leaders and Moments of Reflection

Before the ceremony began, several global leaders paid their respects before the Pope’s coffin. Among them were U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula, and Argentine President Javier Milei. The funeral also provided an opportunity for diplomatic exchanges, including meetings between Trump and Zelensky, as well as between Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A Ceremony Marked by a Call for Peace

The outdoor Mass, held in the magnificent St. Peter’s Square framed by Bernini’s elegant colonnade, began at 10 a.m. with the solemn toll of bells. The Pope’s simple coffin, topped with a copy of the Gospels, stood before the altar. It was greeted with rounds of applause from the crowd. During his homily, Cardinal Re highlighted Pope Francis’s unwavering commitment to peace, denouncing “the fury of wars” and urging the world to “build bridges, not walls,” echoing Francis’s advocacy for migrants and conflict resolution.

A Global Prayer and Universal Tribute

One of the ceremony’s most poignant moments was the universal prayer, read in six languages — French, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, German, and Chinese — symbolizing the worldwide reach of Francis’s papacy, known for his extensive travels and calls for greater solidarity. The service concluded with heartfelt applause and another tolling of the bells.

The Procession Through Rome to His Final Resting Place

Following the Mass, the white popemobile carried the coffin through the streets of Rome, accompanied by an emotional and prayerful crowd. Nearly 150,000 people lined the procession route to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where Francis had wished to be buried. Giant screens broadcast the cortege’s progress as migrants, prisoners, and homeless people gathered to pay their respects — a reflection of the Pope’s lifelong advocacy.

In a private ceremony, the coffin was placed in a niche near the altar dedicated to St. Francis. As per his wishes, the tomb bears a simple inscription: Franciscus.

Now, the Conclave

As the Catholic world mourns Pope Francis, the Church prepares to turn a historic page: the 135 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 are now called to the conclave, where they will gather behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor.