Pope Francis laid to rest as world pays tribute in Rome

26 April 2025

Heads of state and mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square and along the streets of Rome on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis. According to Italian interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, there were no fewer than 400,000 people in attendance.

Calls for peace

The funeral ceremony, led by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, paid tribute to Pope Francis’, calling on those in attendance and beyond to be harbingers of peace. "Pope Francis has raised his voice unceasingly to implore peace and to appeal to reason," Cardinal Re said during his homily, drawing a wave of applause from the gathered crowd. "War always leaves the world worse than it was before."

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during Pope Francis' funeral mass on 26 April 2025.
©PHOTO UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP

Among those in attendance were 55 heads of state and 12 ruling monarchs, according to the Vatican. US president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were present, as were former president Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Other notable figures included French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and Argentine president Javier Milei, representing Francis’ homeland. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also received applause as he took his place in the square. From Belgium, prime minister Bart De Wever attended alongside King Filip and Queen Mathilde. Spanish King Felipe and British Crown Prince William were also among the dignitaries.

The Pope's final journey

Following the public funeral ceremony, Pope Francis’ body was transported through the centre of Rome to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, cheered along the way by thousands of people. The specially adapted Popemobile carried the simple wooden coffin as crowds paid their respects.

On the steps of the basilica, poor people, homeless individuals, prisoners, transgender people and migrants were given the honour of being the last to say pay their respects.

At his own request, Pope Francis will be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, making him the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. The burial itself will take place in private.

Diplomatic relations

On the sidelines of the funeral, Zelensky and Trump met for approximately 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica, their first encounter since a tense exchange in the White House earlier this year. The White House described the conversation as "very productive," with further discussions on the war in Ukraine planned for later in the day.