Over 250,000 Gather for Funeral Mass of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY, 26 April 2025 — According to the Vatican, around 250,000 mourners filled St Peter’s Square on Saturday as the Catholic Church bid farewell to Pope Francis. The funeral Mass, celebrated in Latin and presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, saw a vast gathering of clergy and faithful. Notable world leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu of India, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and former US President Donald Trump, also attended the solemn event.

Following the Mass, as per his wish, Pope Francis' body was taken into St Peter's Basilica. It is now being moved to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for final rest. The crowd gave the Pope a standing ovation as his coffin was lifted one last time. Many held banners that read "Grazie Francesco" (Thank you, Francis) and "Adiós, Padre, Maestro y Poeta" (Goodbye, Father, Teacher, and Poet), offering a final tribute to his remarkable service to the Church.

Courtesy: Vatican News