Rome, Italy — About 250,000 mourners gathered in Vatican City on Saturday morning to bid a final farewell to Pope Francis in an emotional funeral marked by solemn prayer, heartfelt tributes, and moments of deep reflection.
As the church choir’s hymns echoed across St. Peter’s Square, the vast crowd stood in silence, many bowing their heads and clasping their hands in prayer. The pope’s coffin was brought out of St. Peter’s Basilica just after 10 a.m. (08:00 GMT), and large screens allowed the distant crowds to follow the ceremony closely.
Police officers, military personnel, and stewards who had carefully managed the crowds since dawn relaxed slightly as the service transitioned into a peaceful moment of communal mourning.
Teenagers participating in the Jubilee of Adolescents, part of the Catholic Church’s major 25-year event, sat on the cobblestones of Via della Conciliazione, while others sought refuge from the midday sun in the shaded fringes of the street.
Voices of Unity and Reflection
Pauline Mille, a French doctoral student, shared that it was moving to hear “people singing in harmony and spending time together,” united in their remembrance of the beloved pontiff.
Lebanese American Elie Dib, attending with his wife and young son, said he felt “blessed” to be part of the prayers. His son Antony, draped in a Lebanese flag, said he was “happy the pope is going to heaven,” even amid his sadness.
Nearby, a group of Mexican teenagers knelt in prayer, symbolizing the global reach and impact of Pope Francis’s message.
A Final Journey Through Rome
Following the emotional service, Pope Francis’s coffin was driven in the popemobile through Rome’s historic streets, passing landmarks like the Colosseum on its way to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major — a church Francis deeply cherished, having visited it more than 100 times during his 12-year papacy.
About 50 world leaders, including 12 monarchs, attended the funeral and were quietly ushered away after the ceremony, while tens of thousands of mourners walked toward the pope’s final resting place — a journey many described as a time for reflection.
Fiorello Maffei, who traveled from London, found the funeral service “very touching” and praised Pope Francis’s simple but profound messages of love and inclusion, which resonated even among global dignitaries.
Two priests from Benin, attending with clergy from South Africa, said they were filled with sadness but also hope, thankful for the pope’s lasting legacy of compassion for migrants and refugees.
A Humble Resting Place
At the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, there was no grand public ceremony. Honoring Francis’s wishes, his tomb — marked simply with the Latin inscription “Franciscus” — reflects his humble spirit and request for a modest burial without ornate decoration.
By Sunday, the tomb was opened for public visitation, allowing pilgrims and visitors from around the world to pay their respects to a pope remembered for his message of peace, unity, and unconditional love.
