The bells toll mournfully in the Vatican
The funeral service lasted two hours and fifteen minutes. The bells toll mournfully in the Vatican as the procession carries the coffin of the late Argentine pontiff to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Along the road, a large number of faithful have gathered to say their last goodbye to the ‘Pope of the Poor.’
According to the Vatican Press Office, more than 250,000 people attended Francis’s funeral.
Thousands of people in the streets of Rome
A crowd has gathered in the streets of Rome as the vehicle carrying the coffin of Pope Francis traverses the Italian capital.
The funeral ceremony is coming to an end – The funeral procession begins.
The funeral ceremony is nearing its conclusion and the atmosphere in the Vatican is heavy.
Faithful are kneeling on the pavement to pray, while others are crying.
The funeral procession will start soon, and those in charge at the Vatican are preparing the barriers so that the crowd can exit and move towards the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis will be buried.
“Christ is Risen” was chanted at St. Peter’s Basilica, just before the funeral of Pope Francis was completed.
This year, the Easter of Catholics and Orthodox coincided, but this was also a sign and reference to Francis’s desire for a joint celebration of Easter.
Following this, a service for the deceased took place.
Handshakes of the leaders as a sign of peace
More than 200,000 faithful at the funeral of the pontiff
According to Vatican figures, the faithful from around the world attending the funeral of Pope Francis have surpassed 200,000.
In addition to the eulogy delivered by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prayers and reflections were given in French, Arabic, German, Polish, and Chinese.
Passages from the Acts of the Apostles and from the Gospel of John were also read.
The faithful applauded and were particularly moved during Cardinal Re’s references to the humanity, simplicity, and significant contributions of Francis as the Holy Father of Catholics.
The former Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi
A crowd of people along the funeral procession, which will begin immediately after the burial
French President Emmanuel Macron with His Wife Brigitte
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re: Pope Francis Stood by the Weak and Worked for Peace
“Thank you to all the world leaders who show their love for the Pope,” emphasized Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re in St. Peter’s Square.
“The work of the late Pontiff touched our hearts and thoughts. The last image that will remain in our hearts is that of Easter when he blessed the faithful and greeted the crowd from the Pope Mobile, despite his health issues. He followed the example of the Good Shepherd, who loved his flock so much that he devoted his life to them,” added the Cardinal.
As Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re highlighted, “Francis wanted to stand by everyone, especially those in difficulty, dedicating all his energy to the poor and the forgotten. He was full of humanity and reached out to those far from the Church.” For the late Pontiff, “the Church must always keep its doors open to all.”
The oldest cardinal also emphasized the Pope’s first trip after his election to the island of Lampedusa “and then his visit to Lesbos, alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos.”
This was always guided by solidarity and aid for migrants and refugees, because, as Francis said, “we all belong to the same human family, and no one is saved alone.”
“Francis always sought peace, calling for fair negotiation, for war brings only death and destruction and is always a defeat,” the elderly Italian cardinal concluded.
Title: Notable Leaders Meet at the Funeral of Pope Francis
In a poignant moment amidst the funeral of Pope Francis, U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen exchanged a handshake in St. Peter’s Square. The brief conversation took place against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and the EU, as reported by AFP. Despite the opportunity for dialogue, no bilateral meeting between the two leaders has been confirmed on the sidelines of the funeral, while the European Union has put forth several proposals aimed at reducing the tariffs imposed by Washington earlier in April. This development underscores the pressing need for dialogue and collaboration during a time filled with challenges for international relations.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his wife Mareva
The coffin of Pope Francis during its transport to St. Peter’s Square
Heartfelt Images from the Final Farewell to Pope Francis
Applause and cheers erupted as the coffin of the “Pope of the poor” arrived in St. Peter’s Square.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda
Donald Trump with Melania Trump
At least 140,000 people have already gathered in St. Peter’s Square and its surrounding areas this morning to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, according to the Rome police. In addition, over 140 foreign delegations have also arrived, as reported by the same source, including U.S. President Donald Trump, according to an AFP journalist.
What music will resonate during the solemn funeral rites?
The music to be unveiled at this sacred occasion will encompass:
- Introductory Antiphons – setting a reverent tone and uniting the faithful in shared grief.
- The Liturgy of the Word – readings and meditations on the Word of God, drawn from the holy scriptures, guiding the assembly in reflection.
- The Eucharistic Liturgy – where bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic faith.
- The Rite of Communion – the sacred sharing of bread and wine, commemorating the Last Supper and the profound sacrifice of Christ for humanity.
- The Final Commendation and Farewell – a concluding blessing offered by the priest, marking the solemn farewell to the departed Pontiff.
Thousands of people at the funeral of Pope Francis
These hallowed rites will adhere to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (Ritual of the Burial of Roman Pontiffs), the esteemed liturgical text that guides the observance of funerals for Popes. The ceremonies, steeped in the tradition of the Requiem Mass, will feature a rich tapestry of ecclesiastical music: sublime Gregorian chants, intricate polyphony, and other sacred melodies, all rendered in the timeless language of Latin. The psalms will be expressed through neumes, an ancient musical notation integral to the beauty of Gregorian chant.
As the solemn procession of the Pope’s casket begins, the Litany of the Saints—an official prayer of the Holy Roman Church—will be sung, honoring the communion of saints and invoking their intercession for the faithful departed. This gathering before St. Peter’s Basilica in the heart of St. Peter’s Square will be a poignant moment of reflection and farewell, marked by the mournful tolling of bells, echoing the profound sorrow of a world uniting to honor its shepherd.
Today, over 200,000 faithful are expected to gather in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis, lining up behind a procession that will cover a distance of 6 kilometers from the Vatican to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The ceremony, set to begin at 11 a.m. (Greek time) under the leadership of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, has been meticulously planned with a strict dress code for all attendees. Among the faithful will be prominent leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have been invited to bid farewell to the Pope. Francis will be laid to rest in a simple grave, in accordance with his wishes, and the funeral will mark the beginning of nine days of mourning for the Catholic Church. Security measures are stringent, with more than 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers deployed to ensure the safety of participants. With hundreds of thousands of attendees, both faithful and political, today’s ceremony promises to be a historic moment for the Catholic Church.
Today, heads of state, high-ranking clergy, representatives of the political world from around the globe, and thousands of faithful are expected to bid farewell to Pope Francis. According to the Vatican, 164 delegations, including 54 heads of state and 12 kings, will attend today’s ceremony. Among those present to say their final goodbyes to Pope Francis in Rome will be U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, along with most European leaders.
In total, more than 250,000 people paid their last respects to Pope Francis during the three-day public viewing until last night, when his coffin was sealed in preparation for today’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square and his burial in a basilica outside the walls of the Vatican.
World leaders, such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentina’s Javier Milei, alongside members of the royal family, gathered in Rome for the funeral. However, the Pope’s coffin will be honored by a group of homeless citizens, in a gesture representative of the humility and receptiveness of the Pontiff, upon its arrival at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.
The grave of Pope Francis is being prepared behind a wooden barrier within the basilica. This is the place the Pontiff chose as his final resting place, so that he could be near an image of the Virgin Mary that he revered and often prayed before. As for Pope Francis’s burial, it will take place privately, as announced by the Vatican.
Photos from the burial site show the marble tombstone with a simple inscription in Latin, as requested in his last will: “Franciscus.”
Meanwhile, the Cardinals will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore tomorrow, Sunday. Entering through the Holy Door, they will visit the image of Salus Populi Romani, which was beloved by Pope Francis, and then perform evening prayers, according to the Vatican.
Security Measures
For the ceremony, Italy is deploying more than 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers during the funeral, which is expected to attract approximately 200,000 worshippers to St. Peter’s Square and up to 300,000 people along the 4-kilometer route from the Vatican to the Pope’s burial site. The extensive security operation includes the parking of a naval ship off the coast and the readiness of fighter jet teams, as reported by Italian media.
The Whole World
In addition to U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, among the other foreign dignitaries attending are: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his wife, Mareva.
The Ritual
The papal procession will begin at 9 AM local time, while the funeral will start at 10 AM local time and will take place in St. Peter’s Square.
The ceremony will be broadcast live by most major news networks, as well as their websites and YouTube channels. BBC will also live stream the entire ceremony, while Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the service, according to Vatican News.
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