Pope Francis’ wooden coffin was carried into St. Peter’s Square on Saturday at the start of a funeral Mass.
Applause rang out as the coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was brought out of St. Peter’s Basilica and into the sun-filled square by 14 white-gloved pallbearers.
Bells tolled as the last of leaders from more than 150 countries took their places. Dignitaries included U.S. President Donald Trump, who clashed with Francis on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration.
The open-air ceremony, which will be celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 other priests, was due to last 90 minutes.
The pope’s casket was placed on a carpet in front of the altar, with the book of gospels laid on top, as the Vatican choirs sang.
Massed ranks of red-robed cardinals sat to one side of the altar, facing rows of black-suited world leaders on the other side. In front of them were hundreds of priests in white vestments and then thousands of ordinary mourners.
Francis was a “pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said as the homily continued.
“Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time of globalization,” Re said.
Notable guests
More than 50 heads of state are attending today’s funeral.
While the crowd was mostly hushed, they broke into applause when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky entered the square.
Today’s funeral marks Trump’s first foreign trip since returning to the White House. He met with Zelensky prior to the funeral, the first time the two have met in person since their awkward state meeting in February. Trump is sitting along side his wife Melania Trump and former US President, Joe Biden and wife, Jill.
Delegations are sat in alphabetical order in French, those in the US delegation – known as “États-Unis” – are placed near those representing Estonia and Finland.
Britain’s Prince William, next in line to the throne, is among the world’s royals attending. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain are also there, alongside Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
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