World leaders join 200,000 for Pope Francis’ funeral
- 4 hours ago
As many as 200,000 people attended Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter’s Square as he is being laid to rest on Saturday. While dignitaries are on hand, prisoners and migrants will usher him into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as Pope.
US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, the UN chief and European Union leaders are joining Prince William and the Spanish royal family are in attendance.
Francis is breaking with recent tradition and will be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, where a simple underground tomb awaits him with just his name: Franciscus.
The funeral started shortly after 10am local time (noon in UAE).
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The coffin was carried, adorned with just a crucifix and Francis’ coat of arms, down the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica and out into the square at the start of his funeral.
Red-robbed cardinals lined the path and followed behind.
Cardinals in rich red robes formed a double line in St. Peter’s Basilica, flanking the coffin as it was carried into the square for the funeral Mass. Pallbearers lifted the coffin to applause from the square.
Trump and his wife, Melania, were escorted out of St. Peter’s Basilica to their seats for the service.
He was followed afterwards by Zelensky, who was greeted with a burst of applause from the audience.
Acutis was supposed to have been canonised on Sunday as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint.
The Vatican suspended the ceremony after Pope Francis died, but many people who had made plans to be in Rome for the canonisation came anyway to attend the funeral.
Flags and banners lowered
Announcers asked all flags and banners be lowered as the funeral was getting underway.
Francis’ coffin will be brought from St. Peter’s Basilica to the front of the altar in the square.
Mourners were instructed to refrain from waving flags or banners during the procession.
World leaders and royalty sat to the right of the main altar.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei have all made their way to their seating.
The Argentine and Italian leaders have a pride of place in the seating order.
The US president clashed with the Pope on immigration, climate and other issues.
50 heads of state
Donald Trump arrived with his wife, Melania. He is among more than 50 heads of state and other dignitaries attending the funeral of Pope Francis.
They spoke of the Pontiff in emotional terms while lining up along Via della Conciliazione for Pope Francis’ funeral in St. Peter’s Square.
Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru, lined up at 7am.
"He was a very charismatic Pope, very human, very kind, above all very human,’’ Vaca said. "It’s a very great emotion to say goodbye to him.
Italian pilgrim Pasquale Vezza made his way to the square with his family. He said the Pope "was a bit like everyone’s grandfather."
"He will be greatly missed as a person, as a Pope. ... Now we hope that there will be a continuation, especially of his message of peace,” Vezza said.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s press office confirmed his arrival, joining the first lady Olena Zelenska, who preceded him.
Zelensky’s presence was put in doubt after a recent missile attack.
One more ride
The Pope will get one more ride past the faithful on one of his beloved Popemobiles.
The Vatican says for Saturday’s burial procession, his coffin will be placed on the back of a Popemobile used during his 2015 trip to the Philippines.
The vehicle has been modified so the coffin will be visible to mourners along the nearly 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) route from St. Peter’s Basilica to his place of burial.
The Pope revelled in being driven through crowds of faithful whether in St. Peter’s Square or on one of his many foreign trips.
His last was on Easter Sunday, when he looped around St. Peter’s Square to the delight of the faithful who had followed his 5-week hospitalisation for pneumonia and his recovery at the Vatican.
The 13 spent the night in a nearby square. They were already coming to Rome for the planned canonisation of the first millennial saint on Sunday, which was suspended by Francis’ death. Instead, they drove up a day early for his funeral.
"The Lord wanted it this way, so we came all the same,’’ said Sandra De Felice of Anoia in the Calabria region. "For me, this is a sign that we need to be truly humble and charitable. Otherwise, we are nothing.”
Ordinary mourners streamed on Saturday to get a spot in standing room near the rear of the square surrounding the ancient obelisk, behind VIP seating. The area to the left of the main altar, up the basilica steps, is reserved for celebrants and Catholic hierarchy, while world leaders and royalty will be seated on the right.
Many ran towards the square as barricades opened. Some carried banners for the Jubilee Holy Year that Francis opened in December and will continue despite his death on Monday following a stroke.
Associated Press