A sea of mourners filled St. Peter’s Square today as the world came together to honor Pope Francis during a solemn funeral mass. According to sources, over 250,000 people attended the service, while thousands more lined the streets of Rome for the procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the late pontiff was laid to rest.
The mass was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and reflected Pope Francis’ request for a simpler ceremony, contrasting with the grandeur of past papal funerals.
Dignitaries and leaders from over 130 countries attended, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Prince William of the United Kingdom.
Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Easter Monday following a stroke and heart failure, was remembered as a "pope of the people" who tirelessly advocated for the marginalized, migrants, and environmental causes.
Following the mass, his coffin was transported through Rome in an open popemobile, allowing up to a million people to pay their final respects.
Breaking with tradition, Francis chose to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore instead of beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, highlighting his lifelong commitment to humility and simplicity.
