Funeral Ceremony for Pope Francis occurring in Rome
Pope Francis' Farewell Ceremony
The city of Rome witnessed a somber scene as the funeral of Pope Francis took place, as reported by our site citing DW. Here's a lowdown on the historic event.
A Solemn Goodbye
The day began with a requiem mass at 10:00 AM on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, led by Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. The ceremony saw the participation of about 224 cardinals and 750 bishops.
On April 25, the rite of closing Francis' coffin took place in St. Peter's Basilica. A vigil was held throughout the night. Between April 23 and 25, around 250,000 pilgrims visited the church, with the coffin being moved to the courtyard in front of the basilica during the mass.
A Gathering of Heads of State
It is reported that around 50 heads of state and government, along with tens of thousands of believers, attended the mass. The front rows saw the presence of heads of state of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and Argentina, Javier Milei. Monarchs from around the world, and then heads of state in alphabetical order followed suit.
Notable attendees included the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his wife Melania, former American leader and Catholic Joe Biden, President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Acting Chancellor Olaf Scholz. French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also graced the occasion, accompanied by his wife, Olena Zelenska, and a Ukrainian delegation.
Passing of a Spiritual Leader
Pope Francis had passed away on April 21 at the age of 86 in his residence at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Media reported on the possible cause of his death.
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, expressed condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. Tokayev wrote on his social media account that the pontiff was an outstanding spiritual leader who tirelessly promoted noble ideals of humanism, justice, and compassion.
Meeting in the Vatican
Evidently, before the funeral, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in the Vatican, as previously reported. The details of their meeting remain undisclosed.
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Reference(s):
[1] "Trump meets Zelensky in the Vatican". Reuters. April 26, 2025.[2] "Trump-Zelensky Meeting Reported Ahead of Pope Francis' Funeral". NBC News. April 26, 2025.[3] "What Trump and Zelensky Discussed in the Vatican". The Wall Street Journal. April 26, 2025.[4] "Kazakh President Condoles on Pope Francis' Passing". Kazakhstan Today. April 25, 2025.[5] "White House Describes Zelensky-Trump Meeting as 'Very Productive'". Associated Press. April 26, 2025.
- Thousands of believers and around 50 heads of state and government, including President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, gathered in the Vatican for the requiem mass of Pope Francis.
- The Pontiff, who was known for his promotions of humanism, justice, and compassion, passed away on April 21 at the age of 86 in his residence at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.
- Prior to the funeral, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in the Vatican, but the details of their meeting remain undisclosed.
- The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, expressed his condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, praising him as an outstanding spiritual leader.
