The funeral of the late Pope Francis in Rome has come to an end. According to Vatican reports, over 200,000 people attended the funeral mass on St. Peter’s Square. The casket of the Pope was carried out of the St. Peter’s Basilica and placed on the square, where numerous state and government leaders, clergy and believers were present.
Following the mass, the funeral procession set off with the casket of Pope Francis. The procession led through the streets of Rome and passed significant landmarks such as Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. Francis had made a testamentary decision to be buried in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore rather than in the Vatican. The burial will take place in the afternoon in private.
The funeral was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who praised Francis as a bridge-builder and “the Pope of the People.” Numerous international dignitaries, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, took advantage of the occasion to hold talks on the sidelines of the ceremonies. Former US President Joe Biden was also present, but not as part of the official delegation.