Farewell rituals held for Pope Francis at Vatican funeral as he takes his final popemobile drive
A heartwarming and diverse farewell was bidden to Pope Francis in a humble funeral service on Saturday at St. Peter's Square, while his final resting place was welcomed at St. Mary Major Basilica. This choice was significant for multiple reasons, including its historical and spiritual importance, symbolic nature, and emotional connection to the departed Pope.
Jam-packed with over 250,000 mourners in attendance, the emotional Vatican Mass included the pope's simple wooden coffin traveling six kilometers (three and a half miles) amidst crowds clapping and cheering for "Papa Francesco."
At St. Mary Major Basilica, pallbearers brought the coffin past a group of migrants, prisoners, and homeless individuals who were present to offer white roses in remembrance. In a poignant moment, four children placed these flowers at the altar before cardinals performed the burial rite at Pope Francis' tomb in a nearby niche.
Among the mourners was Mohammed Abdallah, a 35-year-old Sudanese migrant, who shared his gratitude for Francis' empathy and help for people like himself and others in dire straits. He remarked, "Francis helped so many people, refugees like us, and many other people in the world."
Celebrating Pope Francis' legacy as a humble and compassionate shepherd, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re eulogized the first Latin American pontiff as a man of the people. He highlighted the pope's accessible, informal style that enabled him to communicate effectively with the "least among us."
The powerful and compassionate came together during Francis' memorial. U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William led the over 160 official delegations in attendance.
In an unprecedented side meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine's ongoing conflict, with the encounter taking place in St. Peter's Basilica, where Francis would often exhort the importance of a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Thousands gathered ahead of dawn to pay their respects as Pope Francis lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica. Nigerian Sister Christiana Neenwata expressed the sentiments of many mourners, saying, "We are here to honor him because he always said 'don't forget to pray for me.' So we are also here to give to him this love that he gave to us."
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, having suffered from a stroke while recovering from pneumonia. He had a particular affection for St. Mary Major Basilica, where a Byzantine icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani, is housed.
The choice of St. Mary Major Basilica for Pope Francis' final resting place was symbolic not only for its historical connection to his Jesuit religious order and Francis's frequent visits to the church but also for its representation of a humble and approachable pope who cared deeply for all people.
Mourners, numbering over 250,000, gathered to pay their respects and celebrate the life of Pope Francis in a Decade of Funeral Mass at St. Peter's Square. The farewell, poignant and emotional, was held at St. Mary Major Basilica, the chosen resting place for the late pope, symbolizing its historical and spiritual significance.
Cardinals led the burial rites at Pope Francis' tomb within the basilica, as the coffin passed by migrants, prisoners, and homeless individuals offering white roses. The humble leader's final resting place held special meaning for him, as it housed the Byzantine icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani.
Among the dignitaries present at the memorial was Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who celebrated the first Latin American pontiff's legacy as a compassionate shepherd with an informal and accessible communication style. This style allowed him to reach out to "the least among us."
In a significant display of unity and diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an unprecedented side meeting during the memorial within the hallowed halls of St. Peter's Basilica, once graced by Pope Francis' presence and teachings on peaceful solutions.
