- Pope Francis was laid to rest in a historic ceremony at St. Peter’s Square, drawing an estimated 250,000 mourners and several world leaders
- Among those present were President William Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula
- In keeping with his humble wishes, Francis was buried in a simple wooden coffin and became the first pope since 1903 to be interred outside the Vatican
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Pope Francis has been buried in a ceremony attended by world leaders.
Photos of Pope Francis’ funeral
President William Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula separately flew to the burial.
Others leaders at the funeral led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re included UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and US President Donald Trump.
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An estimated 250,000 people crowded into St. Peter’s Square and nearby streets to witness the historic event. Rome and Vatican authorities heightened security to manage the massive crowds, with the Swiss Guard, the Vatican’s renowned 135-member force, standing watch.
True to his character, Francis requested a simple burial. He chose a plain wooden coffin over the traditional triple-coffin arrangement of cypress, lead, and oak used for previous popes.
His body lay in state at St Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of mourners queued to pay their respects.
Following the service, the Pope’s coffin was transported in a Popemobile across the River Tiber to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, honouring his wish to be buried there. This departure from tradition makes Francis the first pope since Leo XIII in 1903 to be interred outside the Vatican.
In his will, Francis asked for a simple burial, with a tomb “in the earth, without special decoration, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”
With the funeral concluded, the College of Cardinals now has up to 20 days to convene a conclave to elect a new pope. A nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, will also take place.
Pope Francis passed away on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, just one day after making his final public appearance to deliver Easter greetings from a balcony at St Peter’s Basilica.
In 2013, Francis became the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, succeeding the retiring Pope Benedict XVI. Throughout his papacy, he was known for his humble and informal style, which distinguished him from his predecessors.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
