A historic moment unfolded in the Vatican City today as an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics bid farewell to Pope Francis during his final journey.
For the first time in more than a decade, the world is watched the funeral of a pontiff – not one who resigned, but one who died in office – and crucially, one who broke Catholic convention by accepting LGBTQ+ people.
His coffin was driven around the Vatican and Rome for his ‘final goodbye’ as crowds gathered in their thousands to catch a final glimpse of the pontiff.
Priests gave communion to official attendees of the funeral before the mass concluded, and Pope Francis’s body was transported to St Mary Maggiore in Rome for burial.
Donald Trump was one of 50 world leaders paying their respects to the late Pope. He was spotted standing by the coffin with his wife, Melania.
Trump joined UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and a host of other world leaders and dignitaries for the open-air funeral mass in St Peter’s Square.
Sir Keir paid his respects in front of Pope Francis’s coffin, before later joining the Prince of Wales in the Vatican.
What was the mood in the Vatican?
As the mass began, the crowd in Vatican City quietened. The quiet was only broken by hymns, quiet applause and prayer throughout the almost two-hour-long mass.
Metro witnessed paramedics rush to attend to a collapsed mourner deep in the crowd. It took several minutes to reach them.
The temperature surpassed 20C in the Vatican, and most people were in the Vatican since around 6 am.
Before the funeral began, a group of nuns holding hands raced past Metro to go through the metal barricades. Groups of children dominated the crowd and appeared to be the most unforgiving opponents in the race.
38-year-old Anne Nagle travelled from Dublin, Ireland, for the Pope’s funeral. She told Metro she didn’t think she’d have this opportunity again.
‘I wanted to go deeper into the history of my Catholic faith. It’s inspired me and just delve deeper and think about how this is where Christianity flourished.
‘What a privilege it is to come here when we’re united like this. It gives you great hope. Pope Francis wasn’t afraid to speak out or stick up for people, especially migrants.’
What was surprising was the number of young people in the crowd. Organisers estimated that around 200,000 people attended the ceremony, but it is unclear how many of them were under 18.
Metro spent the morning in the crowd, and a majority of those who poured into the square were youngsters – some on official school trips, others accompanying their parents.
This was not a shock considering Francis’ attitude towards youth and his charisma, warmth and kindness exhibited in events at schools.
Most wore brightly coloured handkerchiefs knotted around their neck, signalling which Catholic school in Italy they had travelled from.
One of them carried a large white and gold balloon with Francis’s face stamped on it.
‘Paps, papa,’ a small boy pointed at the balloon, gesturing at his family. It was a joyful atmosphere, even though it is a funeral.
The number of people gathered here in front of St Peter’s Basilica signaled the importance the pope had in their life and how he bent the centuries-established boundaries of the Catholic Church.
Some mourners arrived with large camping bags, signalling that they may have slept near the walls of the Vatican to get up early and secure a spot.
It was a well-oiled security operation, despite all the logistics. Official entry points, luggage scanners, and checks every few metres. The perimeter was locked down, and thousands of officers from the Swiss Guards, the Carabinieri and various branches of the Italian military ensured the safety.
Outside the Vatican walls, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets in the Italian capital to say goodbye to the pontiff.
How did the funeral unfold?
The official ceremony began with the pope’s coffin being taken out of St Peter’s Basilica and into the square.
The funeral Mass began at 10 am (9 am BST) with a choir singing introductory rites in Latin.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the homily and led the Mass, which was attended by 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests in the square.
Francis will then be buried according to his wishes in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, outside the Vatican.
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The last pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903.
Crowds gathered along the route, which is 3.4 miles long and passes by many of Rome’s famed monuments, including the Colosseum.
A group of poor people were present on the steps leading to Mary Major to pay their final respects to Francis, reflecting his devotion to serving the poor and oppressed during his reign.
Pope Francis' funeral hour by hour
8.30 am – Archbishops and bishops assembled in the Constantine Wing, a corridor adjacent to St Peter’s Basilica
9 am – Patriarchs and cardinals met in Saint Sebastian’s Chapel in the Basilica
10 am – The funeral began, with the Pope’s coffin laid in the square in front of St Peter’s Basilica
11.45 am – The funeral ends and the procession began
The burial was a private service, but visitors to the tomb will be allowed shortly afterwards. The tomb will be inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus.
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