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The beloved pontiff passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in Vatican City.
His passing marks the end of a papacy defined by compassion, reform, and deep connection with the faithful around the world. Stay with us for real-time coverage of his burial this Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pope Francis’ funeral: 250,000 mourners, world leaders pay tribute
Hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders including US President Donald Trump packed St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral ofPope Francis, “pope among the people” and the Catholic Church’s first Latin American leader.
Some waited overnight to get a seat in the vast square in front of St Peter’s Basilica, with the Vatican reporting some 250,00 people attended, in an outpouring of support for the Argentine pontiff.
More than 50 heads of state were also present at the solemn ceremony, including Trump — who met several world leaders in a corner of the basilica beforehand, notably Ukraine’s Volodomyr Zelensky, in their first face-to-face since their Oval Office clash in February.
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Mourners applaud Pope Francis’ coffin as Vatican funeral begins
Tens of thousands of mourners and world leaders including US President Donald Trump packed St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the champion of the poor and the Catholic Church’s first Latin American leader.
Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with police reporting some 150,000 people in the square and surrounding streets even before proceedings began at 10:00am (0900 GMT).
The crowds cheered and applauded as the pope’s coffin was brought out of St Peter’s Basilica into the square.
Many of the more than 50 heads of state attending the funeral had entered the Basilica beforehand to pay their respects at the coffin of the Argentine pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88.
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Several world leaders have arrived in St. Peter’s Square for the late Pope’s funeral
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos for Pope Francis’ funeral
Pilgrims waiting in line head to St. Peter’s Square
About 250,000 pay last respects to Pope Francis in 3 days of public viewing
More than 250,000 people paid their last respects to Pope Francis over three days of public viewing by ordinary mourners, church and political leaders that ended Friday, when his coffin was sealed ahead of his state funeral in St. Peter’s Square and burial in a basilica outside the Vatican’s walls.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, along with royalty, converged on Rome for the funeral.
But the group of marginalized people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp.
The Vatican said that 164 delegations are confirmed, including 54 heads of state and 12 reigning sovereigns.
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Pope Francis’ coffin has been sealed
Visitors and mourners queue to access St Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis, in The Vatican on April 24, 2025. The Vatican on April 24 said some 61,000 people had already paid their respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
Pope’s funeral: Vatican braces for huge crowds
The Vatican will make final preparations Friday for Pope Francis’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.
Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, who include US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, are expected to arrive on Friday inRome.
Italian and Vatican authorities have placed the area around St Peter’s under tight security ahead of the funeral, with drones blocked, snipers on roofs and fighter jets on standby.
Further check-points will be activated Friday night, police said.
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Mourners and visitors pay their respects to late Pope Francis as he lies in state in a coffin at St Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 24, 2025. The Vatican on April 24 said some 61,000 people had already paid their respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
Pope Francis’s funeral: who’s attending?
The Vatican on Thursday said at least 130 foreign delegations had confirmed their attendance at Pope Francis’s funeral, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.
Here is a list of VIP guests whose offices have confirmed they will be in Rome on Saturday.
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