Royals, dignitaries and world leaders joined mourners for the funeral of Pope Francis. Follow the latest below.
Saturday 26 April 2025 22:56, UK
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That concludes our coverage of Pope Francis‘ funeral.
More than 250,000 mourners attended as a service was held in Vatican City, Rome, including 249 delegations from across the world.
Aerial views of the Vatican showed a patchwork of colours – black from the dark garb of the world’s leaders, red from the vestments of some 250 cardinals, purple worn by some of the 400 bishops and white worn by 4,000 attending priests.
Choirs sang Latin hymns and prayers were recited in various languages, including Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabic, reflecting the global reach of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Pope was buried in a private ceremony in Santa Maria Maggiore, rather than St Peter’s Basilica – the first time a pope was laid to rest outside the Vatican in more than a century.
The Salus Populi Romani, an icon of Mary, is located in the church’s Pauline Chapel, which was „beloved“ by Francis, according to the Vatican.
As the day drew to a close, a rosary was held outside Santa Maria Maggiore to mark the first of nine days of mourning and masses held for the Pope.
As is tradition, a different group is scheduled to participate each day based on their connection to Francis.
During this period, cardinals from all over the world will arrive at the Vatican for the papal conclave – a private meeting where cardinals choose a new pope.
Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will not emerge from the Vatican until a new pope has been elected.
A cardinal must receive at least two-thirds of the vote to be announced as the new pope.
‚Historic day‘
On the sidelines of the funeral, world leaders discussed the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was met with applause by the crowds, held talks with Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer.
„Seeing Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy talking about peace at the funeral of the Pope of Peace has a such huge meaning,“ said Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni
„Today has been a historic day.“
Trump left the funeral saying he now doubted Vladimir Putin wanted to stop the war.
„It makes me think… he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‚banking‘ or ‚secondary sanctions‘?“
A „three-act drama“ taking place on the sidelines of the funeral has offered Europeans a glimmer of hope that Donald Trump finally understands Vladimir Putin is not to be trusted, says European correspondent Adam Parsons.
Act One was Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s relationship arriving at the funeral, following peace negotiations seen to favour Russia and infamously acrimonious meeting between the pair in the White House.
„Then Act Two, today, here in the unlikely setting of St Peter’s Basilica: Trump and Zelenskyy sitting head to head over a small table with a couple of conference chairs,“ says Parsons.
It is unclear what was said, but Zlenskyy put out a statement about „positive steps“ being made.
Then the third act, on Air Force One, Trump considered the fact that „maybe, just maybe, Putin is stringing him along,“ Parsons says.
„And that noise you can hear is the cacophony of European and Ukrainian diplomats saying: ‚We’ve been telling you this from the start‘.
„They think this could be the moment when Donald Trump, in their opinion, gets it.“
That he comes to understand that Putin has been „trying to play the US president“ and „the Russians cannot be trusted“.
„There is a glimmer of hope in European capitals and in Kyiv that this could yet be the catalyst for some peace deal that no longer favours Russia but instead helps Ukraine.
„And if that was to be the legacy that Pope Francis left behind from his funeral, there are many across this continent who would be very, very grateful.“
The prayers being held outside Santa Maria Maggiore this evening mark the first of nine days of mourning and masses held for the Pope.
As is tradition, a different group is scheduled to participate each day based on their connection to Francis.
Second Day: Cardinal Pietro Parolin will lead a mass in St Peter’s Square for the employees and faithful of Vatican City. All subsequent masses will be held in St Peter’s Basilica
Third Day: Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, will preside over mass for the Church of Rome.
Fourth Day: Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican, will hold mass for the Chapters of the Papal Basilicas.
Fifth Day: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over mass for the Papal Chapel.
Sixth Day: Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over mass for the Roman Curia.
Seventh Day: Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, will hold mass for the Eastern Churches.
Eighth Day: Cardinal Angel Fernendez Artime, Pro-Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, will preside over mass for members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Ninth Day: Finally, on 4 May, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, will lead a mass for the Papal Chapel group.
An excerpt from the prayers outside Santa Maria Maggiore to bring you now.
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickasm, the church’s archpriest, has been addressing the gathered crowds.
„Today, with the arrival in the basilica the last journey of our beloved Pope Francis was accomplished.
„He passed through the streets of Rome and the numerous faithful wanted to pay their last respects and express all their affection.
„In our hearts, we keep alive the memory of all his fruitful ministry in and for the church, the church he loved and served until his last breath.
„From today, he rests in this Marian Shrine so dear to him, under the loving gaze of his mother, here venerated with the title of Salus Populi Romani.“
By Lisa Holland, communities correspondent
„He left us. He went to the sky,“ said Sister Annalisa Serra, gesturing upwards.
„But surely from there he is enjoying seeing us all here since we love him a lot.“
The sentiment from the nun from Sardinia somewhat encapsulates the Pope’s funeral.
Again and again, people told us they felt Pope Francis – who was happiest among the people – would be with them, not the dignitaries, given a choice.
That’s not to say he wouldn’t have taken the opportunity to speak his mind to the world and the Catholic Church’s most powerful first.
But at its heart, Francis’s papacy was defined by his connection with ordinary Catholics.
This weekend was originally billed as a special event in the Catholic calendar, with 150,000 youngsters coming to Vatican City from around the world for a youth jubilee.
Their trips were long-planned and they could never have imagined that when the date came, their event would be overshadowed by the funeral of Pope Francis.
But the presence of the young faces gave a really youthful feel to the day – and a sense of unexpected joviality as we witnessed various groups burst into spontaneous song and applause to celebrate the late pontiff’s life.
Pope Francis recognised the importance of listening to the next generation.
The crowd was an incredible mix of people of all nationalities and backgrounds.
Part of the Pope’s legacy is the growth of the Catholic Church, particularly in countries like the Philippines, where it makes up 80% of the population.
Sister Richelle Elena – who is from the Philippines and came to watch Pope Francis’s coffin pass by on the papal vehicle – said: „We call him lolo kiko- our grandfather – and he is very close to us Filipinos because he embodies our values, the importance of families, dialogue, communion.“
Nicholas Bridges travelled with his pregnant wife, Ludovica, and their young children from the outskirts of Rome.
It’s a lot taking a one-year-old and a three-year-old to a public event attracting 400,000 people.
„It’s an early start, but it’s such a historic event we had to come,“ said Nicholas.
Elise Gascon from France wanted to share the moment with her grandparents.
She said she came so she could tell them what it was like in St Peter’s Square on the day the world’s Catholics said goodbye to their spiritual leader.
Throughout the Pope’s funeral, world leaders gathered there have taken the opportunity to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump are just some of those who met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy – himself met with cheers from the crowds gathered.
The Ukrainian leader has now met with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, to discuss the Vatican’s assistance in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia and the release of prisoners.
„The most important thing for our state is to bring all our people back, to bring more lives home, to their loved ones, to their families,“ said Zelenskyy.
„There are many children who are being held against their will in Russia. We want to bring them home, and this is why we are once again turning to the Vatican for such help.“
Pictures show crowds gathered for an ongoing prayer service at Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis has been buried.
Prayers are being read outside the Santa Maria Maggiore church, where Pope Francis was laid to rest.
Candles are lit and flowers placed beneath the Salus Populi Romani, an icon of Mary beloved by Francis.
According to tradition, it was made by Saint Luke the Evangelist, the patron saint of painters.
Pope Francis entrusted his apostolic journeys to the protection of the Salus Populi Romani, visiting it before every departure and after every return.
By Adam Parsons, Europe correspondent in Vatican City
It was dark when we arrived in the early hours of the morning.
Normally, the streets around the Vatican are quiet at that time, dotted with a few rough sleepers and passing security personnel.
Not this time.
Via della Conciliazione is the road that runs from the Tiber all the way up to St Peter’s Square and, before the sun had risen, there were long queues to get through the checkpoint and secure a prime viewing location.
When the gates were opened, and as more and more people came through, the rush became greater.
A trickle became a torrent – first people strolled towards the front, then they jogged and then, eventually, I saw three nuns, sprinting as fast as they could.
But what I had expected to see in St Peter’s Square was not, in fact, what I did see.
I thought I’d bear witness to a lot of sobbing and sadness. Instead, in our section of St Peter’s Square, we were surrounded by dozens of teenagers; all affiliated with church youth groups, sitting on the ground and playing Uno.
They stayed for the day, watching on the big screens along with the rest of the crowd.
They applauded, watched patiently and then, when they saw President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, cheered their approval.
Nobody, other than the Pope, got a warmer ovation than the Ukrainian president.
What we didn’t know at the time was that Zelensky had just met Donald Trump, nor that Trump had second thoughts about Vladimir Putin’s reliability. But come the end of the service, the news had filtered through.
So could the funeral have been a catalyst for an outbreak of peace, or at least a step or two in the right direction? As if by providence, at the very moment our team was discussing this, Michelle O’Neill, first minister of Northern Ireland, wandered past.
„Well that would be some legacy indeed from Pope Francis wouldn’t it? And I hope that’s the case,“ she said.
So does she worry that the Catholic Church will choose a more conservative successor to Pope Francis, I asked? Would she rather a Pope who continues Francis’s path of reform and, by comparison with his predecessor, liberal thinking. She nods, smiling.
„I think that his legacy is something that we want to be able to carry on.
„We want him to be a living legacy. I hope the incoming Pope has the same qualities, that same approach to the leadership role they provide.
„I think Pope Francis is a lesson to so many people in terms of what we need, which is inclusion. What we need is a more unified society.“
Crowds have gathered for the rosary – a set of prayers – outside the Santa Maria Maggiore in Vatican City.
The bells are ringing through the church and we expect a cardinal to lead the prayers shortly.
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Pope Francis latest: Vatican shares details of Pope's private burial after 'extraordinary' funeral – Sky News
