Over 200,000 Attendees and Global Leaders Gather for Pope Francis' Funeral at Vatican
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Synopsis
On April 26, over 200,000 people and numerous world leaders, including Donald Trump, gathered at the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis. Following a solemn mass, he will be interred outside the Vatican, marking a historic event in Church history.
Key Takeaways
- Over 200,000 attendees at Pope Francis' funeral.
- World leaders, including Donald Trump, in attendance.
- Pope Francis will be buried outside the Vatican.
- Cardinal Re leads the emotional ceremony.
- Focus on peace and humanity emphasized in homily.
Vatican City, April 26 (NationPress) The funeral mass of Pope Francis, which commenced on Saturday afternoon, India time, took place in the stunning Baroque plaza in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The ceremony has drawn attendance from numerous high-profile world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. According to Vatican officials, around 200,000 individuals have arrived to honor the late Pope Francis.
Moreover, over 100 delegations have converged to express their condolences to the departed leader of the Catholic Church, who will be interred in the Italian capital on Saturday.
The solemn and emotional service was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, accompanied by approximately 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and other consecrated religious figures.
“We gather here with sorrowful hearts in prayer around his mortal remains,” Cardinal Re remarked during his homily at the funeral Mass for Pope Francis.
The cardinal reflected on the final days of the Pope's life, which were marked by deteriorating health. "Despite his frailty and suffering toward the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until his last day on earth," he noted.
"The last image we hold of him, which will remain engraved in our memories, is from last Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite serious health issues, desired to bless us from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica," Cardinal Re continued.
Francis was a "Pope among the people, with an open heart for everyone," Cardinal Re added.
"In light of the brutal wars of recent years, filled with horrific inhumanity and countless causalities, Pope Francis constantly raised his voice advocating for peace and urging reason and honest negotiation to discover viable solutions. He stated that war leads to loss of life and destruction of homes, hospitals, and schools, always leaving the world in a worse state: it is a painful and tragic defeat for all," Re emphasized.
"Pope Francis often concluded his speeches and meetings by saying, ‘do not forget to pray for me.’ Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the entire world as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, and also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and upholds the torch of hope," he concluded.
Following the funeral mass, Pope Francis will be laid to rest outside the Vatican at St. Mary Major, a basilica in Rome. Francis will be the first Pontiff in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican Grottoes.
President Droupadi Murmu is at the forefront of the Indian delegation in Rome, accompanied by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State George Kurian, and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Joshua De Souza.
The Indian leaders joined over 50 heads of state, 10 reigning monarchs, and 130 foreign delegations participating in Saturday's ceremony.
Notable global dignitaries present include US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Representing the United Kingdom are Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William. While Russian President Vladimir Putin is not in attendance, Russia has sent its Culture Minister in his stead.
