Pope Francis Funeral Highlights: Pope Laid To Rest After Vatican Funeral Service Attended By 250,000 People

Pope Francis Funeral Highlights: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on the funeral of Pope Francis who passed away at the age of 88 in Vatican on Monday.

Background

Pope Francis Funeral Highlights: Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday earlier this week at the age of 88, will be laid to rest on Saturday at the St Peter's Basilica in Rome. The funeral will be attended by global leaders including US President Donald Trump, his wife Melania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UN Secretary General António Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will be accompanied by Prince William will also be in attendance. President Droupadi Murmu is also in Vatican City and will attend the funeral on India's behalf. Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian are accompanying President Murmu on her visit. Pope Francis Funeral The funeral will start at 10 am local time (1:30 pm IST). Over two lakh mourners have paid their respect to the first non-European pope as his body lay in state in an open wooden coffin inside St Peter’s Basilica.Pope Francis, originally from Argentina, died after suffering a heart stroke on Easter Monday, April 21, just a day after he made a public appearance -- what became his last one -- to offer a blessing to the faithful at the high point of the Christian Calendar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence on the passing away of the pontiff. The Ministry of Home Affairs also announced three-day state mourning on April 22 and 23 and one-day state mourning on Saturday, on his funeral. Pope Francis's Last MessageIn his last Easter message, Pope Francis prayed for the people of Gaza saying, "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.""What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world," the Pope said in the address.

26/04/2025 18:50:14

Pope Francis Funeral Live: President Droupadi Murmu attends funeral Mass

“President Droupadi Murmu attended the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri George Kurian and Deputy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri Joshua De Souza, who are part of the official Indian delegation, also attended the ceremony,” posts President's X handle. 

26/04/2025 18:22:19

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Pope Francis laid to rest, after Vatican funeral service

Pope Francis laid to rest after Vatican funeral service, CNN reported

26/04/2025 17:45:41

Pope Francis Funeral Live: A migrant at the basilica says 'Francis always saw the best in everyone'

According to one of the migrants who saw Pope Francis' casket at his funeral, Francis recognised the challenges encountered by those who fled their home countries.

According to Venezuelan Annamaria Martinez, "Francis always saw the best in everyone."  "He was unique and I'm so sad now," she remarked, breaking down in tears, as per AP.

The 53-year-old expressed her hope that Francis will keep up his wonderful work.  She was one of 40 transgender, homeless, migrant, and prisoner individuals who were invited by the Caritas and Sant'Egidio charities to greet the pope's coffin in order to highlight his concern for the underprivileged.

26/04/2025 16:55:39

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Bishops and leading cardinals greet Pope Francis' casket at St. Mary Major Basilica

Bishops and leading cardinals greeted Pope Francis' casket at St. Mary Major Basilica, where he will be laid to rest in a private ceremony later on Saturday. In a final salute, pallbearers stopped in front of Francis's revered Madonna icon, and four children placed white roses on the chapel's altar, AP reported. The pallbearers then moved with the coffin toward the niche where Francis will be buried beneath a simple monument displaying his name in Latin.

 To enable the burial to take place in private, the Vatican media footage first went back to the icon and then to the outside of the basilica.

26/04/2025 16:37:03

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Coffin arrives at burial site of St. Mary Major Basilica

 Pope Francis’ coffin has been carried into St. Mary Major Basilica, escorted by Swiss Guards, as per AP.

26/04/2025 16:17:49

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Motorcade with coffin making its way across Rome

Crowds applauded and shouted, "Papa Francesco!" as a slow-moving procession carrying the pope's casket to his final burial place crossed Rome from the Vatican, AP reported. From the top of a modified popemobile, the casket could be seen. As the popemobile came out of a tunnel and crossed the Tiber River, there was further applause and the ringing of church bells.

 Police on motorcycles guarded the popemobile. To let mourners lined the streets to see it, the casket is being carried on the back of a customized popemobile.  Before arriving to the basilica, the 6-kilometer (3.5-mile) path traverses the Tiber River and passes the Colosseum, the ancient Roman Forum, and Italy's imposing Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The coffin will be met by about 40 migrants, prisoners, and homeless and transgender people, in a gesture to highlight the pontiff’s care for people who are marginalised.

 

 

26/04/2025 15:50:45

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Funeral Mass ends, Vatican says 250,000 people attended service

Cardinals have returned to St. Peter's Basilica after Pope Francis' funeral Mass.  As white-gloved pallbearers raised the pope's casket to return it to the church, the audience cheered.  It will then be transferred to the popemobile, which will travel across Rome to St. Mary Major, where Francis is buried.

 The Vatican has updated the number of people attending Pope Francis’ funeral to 250,000

26/04/2025 15:31:02

Pope Francis Funeral Live: UK's Prince William attends ceremony with British PM Keir Starmer

UK's Prince William attended the funeral on behalf of his father, King Charles III. He stood side by side with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a moment’s silence in front of Pope Francis’s sealed coffin, AP reported.

 

26/04/2025 15:29:15

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Special prayers held at St Joseph Cathedral Church in Manipur

Special prayers were held at St Joseph Cathedral Church in Imphal on Pope Francis' funeral. Archbishop Dr. Linus Neil told PTI, “The Catholic Church in Manipur is organising a prayer service in a special manner. This is a special worship service for the dead, pleading to God to have mercy on his great soul and grant him eternal rest and happiness.”

26/04/2025 15:18:01

Pope Francis Funeral Live: World will always remember his service to society, PM Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the world will always remember the service of Pope Francis to the society as President Droupadi Murmu joined world leaders in Vatican City at his funeral.

Sharing pictures of Murmu laying tributes to the head of the Catholic Church, Modi said, "Rashtrapati Ji pays homage to His Holiness, Pope Francis on behalf of the people of India. The world will always remember his service to society."

26/04/2025 15:08:28

Pope Francis Funeral Live: President Droupadi Murmu attends state funeral

President Droupadi Murmu, along with other world leaders, attends the state funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. 

26/04/2025 15:00:55

Pope Francis Funeral Live: President Murmu Stands Next To Zelenskyy At Funeral Service

President Droupadi Murmu was spotted next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as she attended the state funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City.

26/04/2025 14:39:49

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Delivers Homily

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, delivered the homily. He began by remembering Pope Francis' legacy and said: "The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts."

26/04/2025 14:27:25

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Vatican Says 2,00,000 Attending Pope's Funeral

The Vatican says 200,000 people are attending the Pope Francis' funeral in St Peter's Square and the surrounding area.

The Italian police have updated their earlier figure, putting the number at around 150,000, including the 50,000 gathered in St Peter's Square.

26/04/2025 14:04:27

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Zelenskyy Meets Trump Before Funeral Procession

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Donald Trump before Pope Francis' funeral service, according to Zelensky's spokesman, Serhiy Nikiforov, BBC reported.

26/04/2025 13:53:42

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Who Is Leading Pontiff's Funeral Service?

Pope Francis's funeral service is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. He was elected as dean of the College of Cardinals in 2020, and Pope Francis extended his term in February this year, BBC reported.

 

 

26/04/2025 13:51:50

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Mass Starts With Entrance Antiphon

Pope Francis's funeral mass began with the entrance antiphon, a selection of psalm verses that are traditionally sung or recited.

 

26/04/2025 13:50:00

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Keir Starmer, Wife Victoria Attend Funeral

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended Pope Francis' funeral at St Peter's Basilica. He was joined taking his seat with his wife, Victoria, joining dozens of dignitaries.

 

26/04/2025 13:45:06

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Coffin Emerges From St Peter's Church

The crowd went silent as the coffin carrying Pope Francis' mortal remains just emerged from St Peter’s Church into the open air.

 

26/04/2025 13:41:58

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Procession Begins To Lay Pontiff To Rest

A slow procession carrying the Pope's coffin is making its way to his final resting place - the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

26/04/2025 13:30:54

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Prince William Bows Head Inside Basilica

Prince William, who is attending the funeral on behalf of his father, King Charles, bowed head inside the Basilica as he paid final respects to Pope Francis.

26/04/2025 13:11:42

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Trump Arrives At St Peter's Square

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have arrived at St Peter's Square to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

 

26/04/2025 13:05:08

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Pope Francis' Death And Burial

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 due to a stroke. He will be laid to rest on Saturday in a simple underground tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, which he requested. His funeral will be held in St. Peter's Sqaure.

26/04/2025 12:59:02

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Potential Successors Of Pope Francis

Here are some of the cardinals who are being seen as Pope Francis's potential successor:

• Pietro Parolin


• Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle


• Fridolin Ambongo Besungu


• Peter Erdo


• Reinhard Marx


• Marc Ouellet


• Robert Prevost


• Mario Grech


• Angelo Scola


• Robert Sarah


• Pierbattista Pizzaballa


• Michael Czerny


• Matteo Zuppi


• Anders Arborelius


• Gerald Cyprien Lacroix

26/04/2025 12:55:02

Pope Francis Funeral Live: 'World Will Always Remember His Service,' Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Pope Francis, saying, "The world will always remember his service to society."

26/04/2025 12:42:30

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Zelenskyy Arrives In Rome For Papal Funeral

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, Reuters reported, citing a Ukrainian presidential spokesman as saying.

 

26/04/2025 12:39:18

Pope Francis Funeral Live: Huge Crowds Throng Vatican For Funeral

Thousands of mourners flooded into St Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis. According to Al Jazeera, some people even waited overnight to be first in the queue for the ceremony.

26/04/2025 12:33:20

Pope Francis Funeral Live: President Murmu Pays Homage To Pope Francis In Vatican

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to His Holiness Pope Francis at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City.