World leaders, mourners bid farewell to Pope Francis – SABC News
Presidents, royalty, and thousands of mourners gathered on Saturday at the Vatican to bid farewell to Pope Francis, whose legacy of compassion for migrants, the marginalized, and the environment was highlighted during his funeral.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who presided over the Mass in St. Peter’s Square said that Francis’ caring spirit must not die with him.
On one side of Francis’ coffin sat US President Donald Trump, who had previously clashed with the pontiff on key issues. On the other side were cardinals facing the decision of whether the next pope should continue Francis’ vision of a more open Church or shift back to traditionalism.
“Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time,” said Cardinal Re. The Argentine pope, who led the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years, died on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke.
The crowd broke into applause when Re praised Francis’ dedication to immigrants, peace advocacy, negotiation over wars, and environmental stewardship.
WATCH: Pope Francis | World leaders and thousands of mourners gather to bid final farewell
Applause also greeted the 14 white-gloved pallbearers who carried the cross-inlaid coffin out of St. Peter’s Basilica. Aerial views revealed a colorful scene — black-clad world leaders, red-vested cardinals, purple-wearing bishops, and white-robed priests. Choirs sang Latin hymns and prayers were offered in Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic, demonstrating the Church’s global reach.
The Vatican estimated 200 000 people gathered by the start of the service. Many had arrived overnight to secure a good spot. “We want to say goodbye because he was a living saint, very humble and simple,” said Mary James, a Franciscan nun.
Over the past three days, about 250,000 mourners filed past Francis’ open coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Trump and his wife, Melania, paid their respects before taking their seats. The coffin was sealed shut on Friday night.
GALLERY | Pope Francis’ funeral
Dignitaries in attendance included the presidents of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines, and Poland, as well as the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand. Royalty such as Spain’s King and Queen were also present. A notable moment was when applause erupted for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met with Trump in Rome for a “very productive discussion,” according to a White House official.
Francis, the first non-European pope in almost 13 centuries, battled to reform the Church by siding with the poor, challenging wealthy nations on migration and climate issues, and pushing for transparency. His papacy faced resistance from traditionalists and his appeals for peace and economic justice often met with muted responses.
WATCH: Pope Francis | Millions of mourners across the globe
A formal summary of Francis’ papacy, written in Latin, was placed beside his body, praising his humanity and universal fatherhood. Reflecting his humility, Francis rejected many traditional papal funeral customs. Instead of three interlocking caskets, he chose a single zinc-lined wooden coffin. He also opted to be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, making him the first pope in more than a century to be interred outside the Vatican.
His tomb simply bears the inscription “Franciscus” with his old iron-plated cross hanging above the marble. The funeral motorcade was set to drive him through Rome one last time to allow Romans to say farewell. Italy deployed one of its largest security operations since the funeral of John Paul II, closing airspace, deploying anti-aircraft defenses, and guarding the event with patrol boats and security forces.
Attention now turns to selecting Francis’ successor. The conclave to elect the new pope is unlikely to begin before May 6, allowing time for cardinals to assess the state of the Church, which continues to face financial challenges and ideological divisions.