World Leaders and Crowds Gather for Pope Francis' Funeral

On a bright, sunny morning, St. Peter’s Square overflowed with history in the making as tens of thousands of mourners, global leaders, and royals came together to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday.

An estimated 200,000 people packed the square today, with 50 heads of state, 10 reigning monarchs, and media outlets from every corner of the world covering what’s being called one of the biggest Vatican events in modern memory. Former U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump were among the first to arrive, alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — whose appearance earned a spontaneous round of applause when flashed on the giant screen.

Since Wednesday, over 120,000 faithful had filed past Pope Francis’ simple wooden casket in St. Peter’s Basilica, a choice honoring his lifelong message of humility. Breaking from tradition, he opted out of the usual triple coffin ceremony, preferring a single wooden one — a final nod to the simplicity he championed.

In a heartfelt homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, described Pope Francis as a "pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone." He praised Francis’ tireless advocacy for refugees, his "constant" voice for the poor, and his urgent calls for peace amid global conflicts. The crowd erupted once again when Cardinal Re referenced Francis’ symbolic first journey as pope to Lampedusa, the frontline of Europe’s refugee crisis.

As the funeral mass unfolded — sung largely in haunting Gregorian chant — the solemn ritual moved into the final commendation. In Latin, Cardinal Re prayed:

"Let us commend to God’s tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, Bishop of the Catholic Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection."

Following communion and the Byzantine Liturgy led by Eastern Catholic representatives, Pope Francis’ casket was carried back into St. Peter’s Basilica as bells tolled, closing the emotional service.

Notably, Francis requested not to be buried among his papal predecessors under St. Peter’s but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome — just 3.5 km across the city — underlining once more his commitment to a papacy marked by humility and accessibility.

CNN’s Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb told Variety:

“The fact that Francis simplified his burial rites… means that even in death, he is still trying to communicate the values of his papacy: simplicity and humility."

The pope’s funeral procession will continue through Rome at a slow, walking pace, passing historic landmarks like the Imperial Forums.

As tradition holds, within the next week, cardinals will gather behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel for a secret conclave to elect the next pope — an event expected between May 5 and May 10. With 110 of the 135 voting cardinals appointed by Francis himself, the race for the next pontiff feels more wide open and global than ever.

Lamb summed it up perfectly:

“It’s been remarkable how this event has garnered huge interest and attention from across the world… the funeral and conclave lend themselves very much to being a television event with big set-piece moments.”

And just like that, a new chapter for the Catholic Church is about to begin — but today, the world pauses to remember a pope who made history by staying humble.

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This article was previously published on UAE Moments. To see the original article, click here