Over a quarter-million devotees bid adieu to Pope Francis in a solemn farewell ceremony.
Pope Francis' Final Farewell: A Worldwide Tribute
Pope Francis' coffin has drawn a massive crowd at St. Peter's Basilica, with around 250,000 people paying their respects since Wednesday as per Vatican reports. This number surpasses the 195,000 believers who visited the open coffin of Pope Benedict XVI.
During his visit, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen declared Francis as a historical figure, renowned for championing the underprivileged and promoting peace. Chancellor Christian Stocker, on the other hand, commemorated him as a bridge-builder who will be dearly missed.
Francis' coffin was sealed in a private ceremony last Friday, in an empty church attended by a few cardinals and invited guests. The white silk cloth required by Catholic tradition covered his face, and an official document praising his humanity, leadership, and fatherly influence was placed in the coffin.
Saturday marks the day for his burial, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of believers to St. Peter's Square. After the ceremony, his coffin will make its way to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial – the first pope in over a century to find his resting place outside St. Peter's Basilica.
International delegations, including heads of state, governments, and cardinals, have flooded Rome for the funeral. Speculation about the new pope has been rampant, with 135 cardinals eligible to vote for the successor in the upcoming conclave, starting in early May in the Sistine Chapel.
The mourning period in the Vatican commences on Saturday, lasting until May 4th, with daily masses held in St. Peter's Basilica for the late pope. These services remain open to the public, allowing all believers to pay their final respects.
Pope Francis' FuneralThe emotional Funeral Mass took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The liturgy was primarily conducted in Latin, lasting approximately two and a half hours.
Following the Mass, a procession transported the Pope's coffin to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for burial.
Lying in State and Mourning PeriodBefore the funeral, Pope Francis' body lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica, allowing public viewing starting around April 23, 2025. During this nine-day mourning period, Vatican flags were flown at half-mast, and the doors of St. Peter's Basilica remained closed as a mark of respect.
BurialPope Francis was laid to rest in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a traditional burial site for popes.
Attendance and International DelegationsThousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square, with attendance rivaling some of the largest papal funerals in history, such as that of Pope John Paul II in 2005. The funeral saw the presence of numerous international dignitaries, including heads of state, governments, and cardinals from around the world.
During the mourning period, speculation about the selection of Pope Francis' successor grew in politics and general-news circles, with 135 cardinals eligible to vote for the new pope in an upcoming conclave starting in early May.
The funeral of Pope Francis attracted attendance from international delegations, noteworthy for the presence of heads of state, governments, and cardinals, creating a global intermingling of religious and political figures in Rome.
