The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 in Vatican City, took place today at Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, deviating from the traditional venue of St. Peter’s Basilica. This significant event, attended by around 250,000 people, included nearly 170 world leaders, with around 50 heads of state and 10 emperors present.
Notable figures such as India’s President Droupadi Murmu, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron were in attendance, along with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Before the funeral, Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed in St. Peter’s Basilica, where Cardinal Kevin Farrell read a document placed inside. Over three days, approximately 250,000 mourners paid their respects. This event marked the first burial of a Latin American pope at Santa Maria Maggiore, as Francis had wished for a simple grave.
His funeral began at 10 AM on Saturday, followed by a respectful procession through Rome in the ‘Pope Mobile.’
At 88, Francis left a final message: “Christ has risen!” His closed cypress coffin was surrounded by dignitaries, reflecting his humble legacy. He was privately buried at St. Mary Major, with his grave simply labeled “Franciscus.”
