Pope Francis, remembered as a “pope among the people,” was laid to rest in Rome on Saturday following a moving funeral attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
Nearly 400,000 mourners filled St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets to bid farewell to the Argentine pontiff, who had led the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers since 2013. Known for championing the poor and embracing a more inclusive vision of faith, Francis left an indelible mark on the world.
After a solemn ceremony, Francis’s simple wooden coffin — a powerful symbol of his lifelong humility — was carried slowly to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his favorite church in Rome, for a private burial.
“It made me very sad. It’s touching, that he left us like that,” said Maria Vicente, a 52-year-old Guatemalan woman clutching her rosary as she watched the procession.
Inside the basilica, fourteen white-gloved pallbearers carried the coffin past children who placed baskets of flowers at the altar. The choir’s prayerful hymns echoed through the historic church, where the pope’s marble tomb now bears a single word: Franciscus.
Over 50 heads of state were present, including President Trump, who briefly met with world leaders such as Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky before the ceremony — their first meeting since tensions flared earlier in the year.
“An Open Heart”
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, delivering the homily under clear blue skies, described Francis as “a pope among the people, with an open heart,” emphasizing his belief that the Church should be “a home with its doors always open.” The crowd responded with spontaneous applause, a rare gesture at such a solemn occasion.
Maria Mrula, a 28-year-old student from Germany who drove 16 hours to attend, said, “Giving to the poor and being with the poor — that’s what he taught us. The Church is alive. It was great being here.”
Security was tight across Vatican City and Rome, with fighter jets on standby and snipers watching from rooftops as a precaution during the massive gathering.
“Build Bridges, Not Walls”
The ceremony marked the beginning of nine days of mourning for Francis, the 266th pope, who died Monday at the age of 88 from complications following a stroke and heart failure.
Battista Re recalled the pope’s frequent calls for compassion and peace, highlighting his famous plea: “Build bridges, not walls.”
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis challenged traditionalists and political leaders alike, speaking out against the mistreatment of migrants and the dangers of climate change. Despite drawing criticism from some quarters, his humanity and courage won him global admiration.
President Trump, whose administration clashed with the pope over immigration policies, nevertheless paid tribute to Francis, calling him “a good man” who “loved the world.”
The funeral brought together leaders like Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Kyiv even published a photo showing Zelensky, Trump, Starmer, and Macron in an intense huddle inside the basilica.
“It was fitting, strong, and beautiful,” said Francesco Morello, a 58-year-old Italian mourner, reflecting on the homily’s message of peace. “He could not bring them together in life, but he managed in death.”
A Legacy of Compassion
Francis’s death marks the end of a papacy defined by outreach and reform. The first Latin American pope, born Jorge Bergoglio in a working-class neighborhood of Buenos Aires, chose the name Francis to honor Saint Francis of Assisi — and the vow to live simply and care for the marginalized.
“The pope showed us that there was another way to live the faith,” said Lara Amado, 25, in Buenos Aires.
Francis’s efforts to modernize the Church included welcoming LGBTQ believers, advocating for migrants, and promoting social justice, while also maintaining some traditional stances, such as opposing abortion.
He “strove for a Church determined to take care of the problems of people and the great anxieties that tear the contemporary world apart,” said Cardinal Battista Re. It was a Church, he added, “capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds.”
Francis’s final public act, a blessing on Easter Sunday, called once more for the protection of “the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants” — a fitting end to a papacy rooted in compassion and courage.
