World mourns as Pope Francis laid to rest in humble burial

VATICAN CITY. Gathering in unity and reverence, world leaders, royalty, and thousands of faithful mourners filled St. Peter’s Square on Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke.

Presiding over the solemn funeral Mass, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praised the Argentine pope as “rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges,” adding that Francis had “truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time.” In a powerful message against regression, the 91-year-old cardinal said Pope Francis was “attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.”

More than 250,000 mourners crammed the square and surrounding streets, while applause filled the air as Francis’ coffin, adorned with a large cross, was carried into the sunlit square by 14 white-gloved pallbearers.

In a moment of historic significance, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously clashed with Pope Francis over issues such as migration and climate change, was seen seated among dignitaries on one side of the coffin. Across from him sat the cardinals who will convene next month to elect the next pontiff, debating whether to continue Francis’ progressive vision or return to a more traditional papacy.

The funeral also offered a poignant backdrop for diplomacy: President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who had last met in a tense encounter in Washington, held a notably warmer discussion inside St. Peter’s Basilica. A White House official described it as a “very productive discussion,” while Zelenskiy called it a “good meeting.”

Heads of state from Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines, Poland, and the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and royalty from Spain were present. Aerial images showed a vibrant mosaic of black, red, purple, and white garments, a visual testament to the global reach of the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church.

The funeral Mass, rich in ancient ritual and attended by about 4,000 priests, 400 bishops, and 250 cardinals, featured Latin hymns and prayers offered in Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Many mourners camped out overnight or arrived before dawn to secure front-row places. Aurelie Andre, a pilgrim from France, shared her emotions: “When I arrived at the square, tears of sadness and also joy came over me. I think I truly realised that Pope Francis had left us, and at the same time, there is joy for all he has done for the Church.”

Following the Mass, St. Peter’s great bells tolled as Francis’ coffin was loaded onto an open-topped popemobile and driven through the streets of Rome. Crowds, estimated by police at around 150,000, lined the 5.5-km (3.4-mile) route to St. Mary Major Basilica. As the cortege passed Rome’s ancient monuments, well-wishers waved signs, threw flowers, and cried out, “Viva il papa!” and “Ciao, Francesco!”

In keeping with his lifelong commitment to humility and simplicity, Pope Francis had requested to be buried at St. Mary Major rather than in the Vatican, making him the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century. The private burial ceremony marked the final farewell.

Skipping the traditional three-casket burial of cypress, lead, and oak, Francis chose a single zinc-lined wooden coffin. His final resting place bears only the simple inscription “Franciscus,” his name in Latin, and is adorned with a reproduction of the modest iron-plated cross he wore throughout his pontificate.

A formal Latin summary placed next to his body hailed him for leaving “a wonderful testimony of humanity, of a holy life and universal fatherhood.”

Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 13 centuries, spent his 12-year reign championing the poor, advocating for migrants, and urging the world to combat climate change. His death has set into motion an ancient and secretive process: a conclave to elect his successor, expected to begin no earlier than May 6.

As the Church prepares for a new chapter, the memory of Pope Francis’ remarkable life and transformative leadership will remain indelibly etched in the hearts of millions around the world.