More than 250,000 people, including religious and political figures, attended a two-hour ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to late Pope Francis. The ceremony was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and included rituals, hymns, and an emotional homily. The pope’s coffin was then transported in the white popemobile over the River Tiber to be entombed in Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
World leaders also attended the funeral, with 130 delegations present, including US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place minutes before the ceremony began, with both leaders agreeing to continue talks.
High security measures were in place, with over 2,000 police officers, sharpshooters, and specialist forces deployed around Rome. Cardinal Re praised Pope Francis’ “deeply sensitive” leadership, highlighting his advocacy for peace in war-torn regions such as Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and South Sudan.
Young people from around the world also attended the ceremony, with many coming to pay their respects to a pope who had a significant impact on the Catholic Church. Despite some criticism of Pope Francis’ policies, he has left a lasting progressive legacy among his followers.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/pope-francis-funeral/index.html