Multitudes pay their respects at a heartfelt funeral for the late Pope.
HIT THE SQUARE: Mass Gathering for Pope Francis' Farewell, as Leaders and Royals Gather
VATICAN CITY — A sea of mourners and prominent global figures, such as Donald Trump (ex-US President) and a plethora of world leaders, flocked to St Peter's Square on the 26th of April. They gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis, marking the historic moment of the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader's final goodbye.
Numerous faithful individuals waited through the night, eager to secure a spot for this significant ceremony. The Vatican reported an incredible 200,000 attendees filling St Peter's Square and the surrounding streets at the peak of the function.
The crowd, teeming with young enthusiasts, cheered as the pope's casket exited St Peter’s Basilica, escorted by pallbearers in white gloves, alongside over 200 red-robed cardinals.
In his funeral sermon, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re emphasized that Pope Francis was a "pope among the people" with an "open heart," who strived for a more empathetic, open-minded Catholic Church. The audience responded with applause, commending the pope's "firm belief that the Church is a sanctuary for all, offering its doors always open to everyone."
Before the ceremony, numerous dignitaries, including more than 50 heads of state, entered the Basilica to pay their final respects to the Argentine pontiff, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 [1][2].
Some of the notable guests included:
- President Javier Milei of Argentina
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine
- Britain's Prince William
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis endeavored to steer the ancient Church towards a more inclusive direction, and his passing provoked a profound global outpouring of emotion.
References:[1] The New York Times (2023). "Pope Francis Funeral: Leaders, Royals Attend Vatican Rite." Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/04/26/world/pope-francis-funeral-vatican
[2] BBC News (2023). "Pope Francis funeral: World leaders gather in Vatican for Mass." Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65099001
- Outside the Basilica, mourners gloveless and otherwise lined the square, among them political figures such as President Javier Milei of Argentina.
- The morning's general news reports and politics sections shared footage of world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Prince William of Britain, gathered in St Peter's Square.
- In the midst of the dignitaries and mourners, a general-news commentator noted the pope's inclusive impact, touching even those far from the faith, signifying the far-reaching effect of Pope Francis' open-hearted message.
