The Vatican has announced that approximately 200,000 mourners have gathered to pay their final respects to Pope Francis during his funeral today at St Peter’s Square and the surrounding areas. Italian police, however, estimate the crowd to be closer to 150,000, with around 50,000 people assembled directly in the square itself.
The solemn funeral service is being led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The 91-year-old Italian, who was ordained in 1957 and became a cardinal under Pope John Paul II in 2001, has played a significant role in recent papal history, participating in both the 2005 and 2013 conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis respectively. He was elected dean in 2020 and had his term extended earlier this year by Pope Francis himself.
The day’s events followed a carefully planned timeline. At 07:30 BST, archbishops and bishops gathered in the Constantine Wing adjacent to St Peter’s Basilica, while Catholic priests began assembling outside in the square. By 08:00 BST, patriarchs from the Orthodox Church and cardinals had congregated in the Saint Sebastian Chapel within the basilica. The funeral officially began at 09:00 BST, when Pope Francis’ simple wooden casket was laid in front of the grand basilica, setting the tone for a modest and deeply respectful farewell.
As the service concluded around 10:30-10:45 BST, a slow, reverent procession carried the casket towards its final resting place at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This procession marked the culmination of an emotional morning that witnessed an extraordinary turnout of faithful from around the world, highlighting the immense impact Pope Francis had on the global Catholic community.
Pope Francis, renowned for his humility, progressive views, and advocacy for the poor and marginalized, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the Catholic Church’s engagement with modern issues. Today’s funeral, with its simplicity and dignity, mirrors the values he espoused throughout his papacy.
