World Bids Farewell to Pope Francis in Solemn Funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a revered global spiritual leader, was laid to rest in a deeply moving funeral service held at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday. The two-hour-long liturgy marked the final farewell to the pope, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, just a day after his final public appearance when he delivered a blessing during Easter celebrations.

As the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled gently, a symbolic gesture of mourning and reverence, thousands of mourners filled St. Peter’s Square and the streets of Rome. Vatican officials confirmed that over 250,000 people were present, including dignitaries from 130 international delegations—among them world leaders and reigning monarchs—who came to pay tribute to the man who led the Catholic Church for 12 years with compassion, humility, and vision.

Pope Francis’ coffin was carried in an open-top white popemobile—famously used during his visit to the Philippines in 2015—across Rome, past the Tiber River, to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Bells rang at the fifth-century church in anticipation of the pontiff’s arrival. Along the route, crowds applauded and wept, many dressed in white, holding candles and photographs of the pope, creating an emotional and unifying farewell.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, his coffin was carried through the Holy Door one final time and placed before the main altar as bells chimed solemnly. The service concluded with the Magnificat, the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a traditional and poignant close to a papal funeral. The choir’s chant—“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”—resonated through the grand basilica as worshippers joined in prayer and reflection.

The funeral was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, who praised Pope Francis as a “pope among the people” and “a shepherd with an open heart.” In his homily, Cardinal Re highlighted Francis’ deep human empathy and commitment to addressing contemporary challenges, saying, “He was attentive to the signs of the times and to what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.”

Reflecting on the pontiff’s legacy, Cardinal Re spoke of Francis’ significant contributions, including his landmark encyclical on climate change and his visits to the Mediterranean islands of Lampedusa and Lesbos, where he stood in solidarity with refugees and migrants. These actions, he noted, reflected a papacy rooted in compassion and justice.

He urged those involved in electing Francis’ successor to consider the overwhelming public response to the late pope’s death. “The massive gathering of people and the outpouring of affection speak volumes about the deep spiritual impact Pope Francis had on the world,” he said.

Pope Francis’ journey from Argentina’s slums to the Vatican, and his unwavering commitment to the marginalized, shaped a papacy that resonated far beyond the walls of the Church. His death has left a profound void, yet his teachings and actions continue to inspire millions around the globe.

The Vatican has not yet announced the date for the conclave to elect the next pope, but for now, the world stands united in remembrance of a spiritual leader who led with humility, grace, and unwavering faith.

Team Maverick.