Pope Francis funeral | Mighty, meek attend ceremony that he helped reimagine

The funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, 2025, was attended by world leaders and Catholic faithful, reflecting his priorities as a Pope and pastor. While Presidents and Princes were present at the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants were preparing to welcome him to the basilica across town where he would be laid to rest.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the square before dawn on a beautiful spring day that was meant to be a special Holy Year celebration for adolescents. Despite the somber ceremony, the atmosphere was festive, with mourners taking selfies and singing hymns as Pope Francis’ simple coffin was brought out of St. Peter’s Basilica at the beginning of the Mass.

Pope Francis had planned his funeral himself when he simplified the Vatican’s rites and rituals the previous year. His intention was to highlight the Pope’s role as a humble pastor rather than a powerful figure. This was a reflection of his efforts over 12 years to reform the papacy, emphasize priests as servants, and create “a poor church for the poor.”

The funeral was attended by both the powerless and the powerful, with dignitaries such as U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and European leaders joining more than 160 official delegations. The white facade of St. Peter’s Basilica glowed pink as the sun rose, and the Mass and funeral procession were broadcast live worldwide. Police helicopters hovered overhead as part of the extensive security operation organized by Italian authorities. This operation included over 2,500 police officers, 1,500 soldiers, and a torpedo ship off the coast, according to Italian media reports.

Many mourners had originally planned to be in Rome for the Holy Year canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, which was now postponed. Groups of scouts and youth church groups almost outnumbered the nuns and seminarians present.

“He was a very charismatic Pope, very human, very kind, above all very human,” said Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru who camped out near the piazza. “It is a very great emotion to say goodbye to him.”

Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Following his funeral, preparations will begin for the conclave to elect a new Pope, likely to begin in the first week of May.

Pope Francis will be laid to rest in St. Mary Major Basilica, breaking from recent tradition. The basilica holds a simple tomb with his name: Franciscus. A motorcade route will bring his coffin from the Vatican to the basilica, with an expected 300,000 people lining the streets.

Forty special guests will greet his coffin at the basilica, honoring marginalized groups that Pope Francis cared deeply about. The choice of the basilica is symbolically significant due to its ties to Pope Francis’ Jesuit order.

Over three days, more than 250,000 people paid their final respects to Pope Francis while his body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican kept the basilica open through the night to accommodate mourners.