Royals, dignitaries and world leaders have joined hundreds of thousands of mourners for the funeral of Pope Francis. Follow the latest below.
Saturday 26 April 2025 12:46, UK
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Live reporting by Ollie CooperandBhvishya Patel
By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor
On an extraordinary day, remarkable pictures on the margins that capture what may be a turning point for the world.
In a corner of St Peter’s Basilica before the funeral of Pope Francis, the leaders of America and Ukraine sit facing each other in two solitary chairs.
They look like confessor and sinner except we cannot tell which one is which.
Leaning forward hands together in their laps Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy stare at each other in one photo.
In another the Ukrainian president seems to be remonstrating with the US president. This is their first encounter since their infamous bust up in the Oval Office.
Other pictures show the moment their French and British counterparts introduce the two men in a corner of St Peter’s Basilica. There is a palpable sense of nervousness in the way the leaders engage.
We do not know what the two presidents said in their briefy meeting.
But in the mind of the Ukrainian leader will be the knowledge President Trump has this week said America will reward Russia for its unprovoked brutal invasion of his country, under any peace deal.
Donald Trump has presented Ukraine and Russia with a proposal and ultimatum so one sided it could have been written in the Kremlin. Kyiv must surrender the land Russia has taken by force, Crimea forever, the rest at least for now. And it must submit to an act of extortion, a proposed deal that would hand over half its mineral wealth effectively to America.
Afterwards Zelenskyy said it had been a good meeting that could turn out to be historic „if we reach results together“.
They had talked, he said, about the defence of Ukraine, a full and unconditional ceasefire and a durable and lasting peace that will prevent a war starting.
The Trump peace proposal includes only unspecified security guarantees for Ukraine from countries that do not include the US. It rules out any membership of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s allies are watching closely to see if Trump will apply any pressure on Vladimir Putin, let alone punish him for recent bloody attacks on Ukraine. Or will he simply walk away if the proposal fails blaming Ukrainian intransigence, however outrageously before moving onto a rapprochement with Moscow.
If he does America’s role as guarantor of international security is over. This could be the week we see the world order as we have known it since Second World War buried, as well as a Pope.
Tens of thousands descended upon the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral today, joining world leaders and clergy from around the world to pay their final respects.
Now, the Pope’s coffin is inside Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a church a short distance away in Rome, where a private burial is being held.
It follows an emotional ceremony in St Peter’s Square, which saw around 250,000 people in attendance.
Here are some of the key images from the day so far…
The public access to today’s proceedings has now come to an end with the arrival of Pope Francis’s coffin to his final resting place.
The pontiff will now be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Neither the media nor the public are allowed to attend proceedings from here, but later on, there will be a rosary service which is open to both.
Stay with us for more live updates.
Here are the final pictures coming through to us before the Pope’s final burial service begins at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The private burial ceremony will allow those closest to him to pay their respects.
Donald Trump is on his way back to the US.
The US president squeezed in a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before heading to Fiumicino Airport.
It’s unclear if he met again with Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their chat inside St Peter’s Basilica this morning.
The Pope’s coffin has arrived at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – the pontiff’s final resting place.
His coffin is carried off the Popemobile and placed in front of the church before being carried in head first surrounded by members of the clergy.
The entombment will be a private event and a chance for those closest to him to pay their last respects.
Here’s a view of the basilica from the inside:
The coffin is now passing the Colosseum, at the centre of the city of Rome.
It will soon be approaching the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Watch the moment here…
An interesting bit of detail regarding the security operation today, which as we’ve already reported, is extensive.
Italy’s interior ministry is telling Sky News that a police officer or soldier is deployed every 10 metres along this 6km route that the coffin of Pope Francis is being transported.
Five police helicopters are also patrolling the skies, with a no-fly zone in place above the Italian capital for anyone not working as part of the security team.
The Pope’s coffin is now in central Rome and bells can be heard ringing in the distance.
The thousands along the streets continue to clap as the coffin is driven through the city.
By Adam Parsons, Europe correspondent, in St Peter’s Square
Within minutes of the funeral service ending, St Peter’s Square is being cleared of people.
It’s going to be cleaned up and then reopened to the public later this afternoon
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Royals, dignitaries and world leaders have joined mourners for the funeral of Pope Francis. Follow the latest below. – Sky News
