Tens of thousands of mourners converged on St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26, 2025, for the historic funeral of Pope Francis, marking the final farewell to the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff. The Argentine-born pope, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 88, leaves behind a profound legacy of compassion, humility, and reform that touched the lives of millions across the globe.
The atmosphere at the Vatican was heavy with emotion as pilgrims, clergy, and dignitaries alike gathered to pay their last respects to a leader who championed the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. By dawn, the square and surrounding streets were already overflowing with faithful from all walks of life, many of whom had camped overnight to secure a place at the Pope Francis historical funeral ceremony.
The funeral Mass, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT), is expected to draw a staggering 200,000 people. Vatican authorities, in conjunction with Italian security forces, implemented a comprehensive security operation, deploying fighter jets, rooftop snipers, and imposing a no-fly zone over the area. Over 50 heads of state and more than a dozen royals, including Britain’s Prince William, were present to honor Pope Francis.
Among the world leaders attending were U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose potential meeting on the sidelines has stirred political speculation. Also in attendance were former U.S. President Joe Biden, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and leaders from Argentina and Brazil, reflecting the pope’s international impact.
“We spent the whole night here with our children just to be part of this moment,” said Gabriela Lazo, a pilgrim from Peru. “He wasn’t just our pope; he was a symbol of hope for all South Americans.”
Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 following the latter’s historic resignation, spent his 12-year papacy steering the Catholic Church toward a more inclusive and socially conscious direction. He consistently advocated for the rights of migrants, the poor, and the marginalized, often ruffling the feathers of traditionalists and political leaders worldwide.
His choice to live modestly in a Vatican guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace, his emphasis on environmental stewardship, and his commitment to interfaith dialogue and social justice reforms defined his papacy. Despite resistance, he sanctioned blessings for same-sex couples, embraced divorced Catholics, and opened discussions about women’s greater role in the Church.
The pope’s final public act, an Easter Sunday blessing just days before his death, called for renewed protection of the vulnerable — a message he championed from his first moments as the 266th successor of St. Peter.
Notably, Pope Francis will be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican walls, choosing instead the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — a favorite church where he often prayed before and after international trips. In a characteristic show of humility, he requested a simple wooden coffin and a modest marble tomb.
The funeral marks the beginning of a nine-day period of mourning, after which the College of Cardinals will convene to elect a new pope. Among the mourners were refugees Pope Francis personally helped relocate, underscoring his lifelong commitment to the displaced.
“The pope showed us a new way to live our faith,” said Lara Amado, a 25-year-old mourner from Buenos Aires. “He taught us that being Catholic means standing with the vulnerable.”
The emotional farewell also featured the presence of some refugees from Lesbos, Greece, whom the pope famously brought back to Rome in 2016 during one of his first acts of papal outreach.
Francis’ death, attributed to stroke and heart failure, came shortly after a difficult hospitalization for pneumonia. Yet his unwavering spirit until the end continued to inspire millions, as demonstrated by the global outpouring of grief.
Countries around the world, from the Americas to Africa and Asia, organized simultaneous memorial Masses and live broadcasts of the funeral. In Buenos Aires, his hometown, thousands gathered at the Metropolitan Cathedral to commemorate the leader they affectionately called “el Papa del pueblo” — the people’s pope.
While Pope Francis’ papacy faced criticisms — particularly from conservative circles wary of his progressive stances — his global influence is undeniable. His efforts to heal the wounds inflicted by clerical abuse scandals, renew the Church’s relevance in the modern world, and advocate for humanity’s most vulnerable leave a transformative legacy.
As the solemn procession carried his coffin toward Santa Maria Maggiore, flanked by “the poor and needy” as requested, the world bid farewell to a pope who truly redefined what it meant to serve.