Vatican City: The funeral of Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, began on Saturday in a solemn ceremony at St Peter’s Square. The beloved pontiff, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, was honoured in a 90-minute Mass attended by world leaders, dignitaries, and thousands of mourners.
The wooden and zinc-lined coffin of Pope Francis was placed in front of St Peter’s Basilica for the service, which began at 1:30 PM IST and was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. A total of 224 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests took part in the proceedings.
The Pope’s casket, sealed the night before, will later be taken through the streets of Rome to be buried at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – a significant departure from tradition, as he becomes the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
Pope Francis’ death has triggered nine days of official mourning, and preparations are underway for the conclave to elect his successor, expected to begin in early May.
India Among Nations Paying Homage
President Droupadi Murmu led the Indian delegation at the Vatican, accompanied by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State George Kurian, and Goa’s Deputy Speaker Joshua De Souza. On behalf of India, she paid her respects at the Basilica on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences, stating: “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.”
India observed a three-day state mourning in honour of the pontiff’s passing.
Global Leaders, Massive Crowd Gather in Rome
The Vatican confirmed that 164 international delegations attended the funeral, including 54 heads of state and 12 monarchs. Among them were U.S. President Donald Trump, and the presidents or prime ministers of Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
An estimated 250,000 people filled St Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, while another 300,000 were expected to line the 4-kilometre funeral route. The Italian government deployed more than 4,000 security personnel to ensure safety during the high-profile event.
A Humble Farewell for a Humble Leader
Pope Francis, who led the Church for 12 years, was known for his humility, progressive values, and efforts to bring reform. He championed the poor, the environment, and social justice, often challenging wealthier nations to act on global issues such as migration and climate change.
True to his character, the funeral ceremony and burial were notably simple. Unlike his predecessors who were buried in grand triple-layered coffins, Francis chose a single, zinc-lined wooden casket. His tomb is marked with a modest inscription: Franciscus.
More than 250,000 mourners paid their last respects during the three-day public viewing, prompting the Vatican to extend viewing hours to accommodate the surge.
As Rome bids farewell, the Church prepares for its next chapter — one shaped in large part by the enduring legacy of Pope Francis.
