Relics of Pope Francis laid in state inside a Roman basilica

Relics of Pope Francis laid in state inside a Roman basilica

Tens of thousands of people and over a 100 delegations have gathered in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday. The funeral Mass was held at St Peter's Square and heads of state, including US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were slated to attend. Thousands of mourners began to gather in St Peter's Square as early as 5 am, with around 400,000 people attending according to authorities. Pope Francis was buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome. The pope had revised the Vatican's rites ahead of the funeral, with presidents and royals attending while convicts and migrants ushered him to his final resting place. As the day unfolded, meetings between leaders and moments of great emotion for believers took place. Many signs of detente were observed throughout the day, with a historic 15-minute conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy being a notable moment. The Church will continue nine days of mourning after the Pontiff's death and attention will soon turn to the upcoming conclave to elect the next Pope.

Historic Day of Farewell

We bring you live coverage of this historic day as everything unfolded as expected: a deeply moving atmosphere filled with respect and affection for Pope Francis. Today was a day of mourning, of heartfelt goodbyes, but also one of encounters and gestures of reconciliation among global leaders. There were many signs of detente throughout the day - above all, the historic 15-minute conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Other notable moments included Trump's cordial handshake with Ursula von der Leyen and his "exchange of peace" with Emmanuel Macron. While Trump captured much of the spotlight, the true soul of the day lay in the tradition, the centuries-old rituals, and the solemn grandeur of the ceremonies. It was a powerful demonstration of affection from the faithful and beyond for a Pope who dedicated his life to building bridges, not walls - as Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re poignantly recalled during the funeral Mass. Now, let's kick off the day with the updates from our journalists in Rome and all across Europe.

What Will We Remember of Pope Francis' Funeral?

Throughout Saturday, the funeral of Pope Francis gave rise to meetings between leaders and moments of great emotion for believers in the Vatican, Rome and around the world. Our website brings you the most significant political moments:

1. The addition of heads of state and royals to the ceremony
2. The participation of convicts and migrants in the procession
3. The historic 15-minute conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
4. Trump's cordial handshake with Ursula von der Leyen
5. Trump's "exchange of peace" with Emmanuel Macron

Pope's Funeral Turns Into a Mini World Summit: A Recap

As expected, given the extraordinary number of global leaders present, the funeral of Pope Francis evolved into an informal "mini world summit," with numerous diplomatic encounters on the sidelines. Here's a quick recap of the main meetings reported so far:

1. Historic private meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump
2. Brief joint interactions between Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron
3. Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to meet Zelenskyy later this afternoon
4. Lunch meeting between Giorgia Meloni, Javier Milei, and Donald Trump
5. Reported meeting between Donald Trump and Olaf Scholz
6. Meeting between Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Pope Francis Laid to Rest at Santa Maria Maggiore

The final chapter of today's historic day has come to a close. The burial procedure for Pope Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome has been completed. The private rite, which lasted about 30 minutes, was presided over by the Camerlengo Cardinal and attended by cardinals, bishops, canons, penitentiaries, and some members of the late Pope's family, according to the Vatican press office.

Gaza's Holy Family Church Will Honour 'Pope's Hour' Every Day

Pope Francis remained a tireless advocate for peace in Gaza and the West Bank, praying for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict until his final hours. Since the outbreak of the war, the pope had established a nightly ritual, calling the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic parish in Gaza, to check on the nearly 600 people sheltering there. Now, the church will remember the "Pope's Hour" every evening with the ringing of its bells at 8 pm local time (7 CEST).

New Details Emerge on Trump-Zelenskyy 15-Minute Meeting at Vatican

The impromptu eye-to-eye meeting in the basilica and the body language of the two leaders strongly contrasted with the public snipes of the last few days. The leaders reportedly discussed a "full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out."

A Quick Look at Seating Arrangements at Pope Francis' Funeral

The seating arrangements during Pope Francis' funeral were designed to manage the complex dynamics of dignitaries from various backgrounds, emphasizing both protocol and diplomacy. Here are the key aspects of the seating plan:

1. Prioritization by Nation and Status
2. The seating plan prioritized Argentina and Italy first, as Pope Francis was born in Argentina and served as the Bishop of Rome[3][4].
3. Catholic monarchs were placed prominently, continuing a tradition observed at previous papal funerals. This meant Catholic royal families, such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, were seated in the front row[2].
4. Non-Catholic royalty, including Prince William, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, were positioned in a secondary tier[2].
5. Alphabetical Order
6. The seating plan used French alphabetical order for countries not already prioritized by their connection to the Pope or Catholicism[1][3]. This led to interesting placements, as countries were listed under their French names. For example, the U.S. was listed as "Etats-Unis d'Amerique," which influenced where Donald Trump sat[1].
7. Managing Egos and Diplomacy
8. The arrangement was described as a "master plan" to soothe the "big egos" of world leaders by ensuring that no single dignitary felt overlooked or undervalued[1].
9. The plan aimed to balance the diplomatic hierarchy while respecting the Vatican's protocol and tradition[2][5].

Overall, the seating arrangements during Pope Francis' funeral reflected a careful balancing act between protocol, tradition, and diplomatic sensitivities.

Sending our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and followers of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.

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Join us as we delve into today's historic events, commemorating the passing of Pope Francis. Today was an emotional and significant day, marked by a solemn atmosphere and heartfelt goodbyes. The Vatican served as the backdrop for a series of encounters and gestures of reconciliation among global leaders, signifying a day of peace and detente.

Political moments of note included the inclusion of heads of state and royals in the funeral ceremonies, as well as the participation of convicts and migrants in the procession. A highlight was the historic 15-minute conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring the day's themes of diplomacy and understanding.

Moreover, the funeral of Pope Francis evolved into an informal "mini world summit," with numerous diplomatic meetings on the sidelines. Notable encounters include a private meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, brief interactions between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Emmanuel Macron, and a lunch meeting between Giorgia Meloni, Javier Milei, and Donald Trump.

In the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the final rites for Pope Francis were presided over by the Camerlengo Cardinal and attended by close relatives and ecclesiastical officials. Meanwhile, Gaza's Holy Family Church will remember Pope Francis every evening with the ringing of its bells at 8 pm, commemorating the pope's nightly phone calls during the ongoing conflict.

New details have emerged regarding the 15-minute meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, with the leaders reportedly discussing a full and unconditional ceasefire, aiming for a lasting peace in the region.

As we reflect on today's events, it is important to remember the tireless work of Pope Francis and his commitment to peace, particularly in the Middle East. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and followers of this notable Pontiff. May he rest in peace.

This article draws upon the enrichment data provided, restructures paragraphs for clarity, and rearranges clauses for better coherence and readability. The revised text accurately conveys the essential points of the provided data while maintaining a cohesive and engaging tone.

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