A funeral Mass is being given in Rome for Pope Francis, with hundreds of thousands of mourners gathering with church leaders and senior global political figures.
Dozens of world leaders filed into St Peter’s Square on Saturday morning for the Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning after an illness. President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania were among the last to be shown to their seats before St Peter’s Basilica, having first been given a moment alone with the casket under the dome.
The Royal Family, which represents not just the United Kingdom but 15 Commonwealth Realms who have King Charles III including Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand was embodied by William, the Prince of Wales. There on behalf of the King, like other leaders the Prince was conducted to the casket and bowed his head in respect. The United Kingdom itself was represented by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who arrived early and spent time talking to other political leaders on the steps of the church.
A general view of Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony in St Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
From Francis’s native Argentina was President Javier Milei, who had something of a rocky relationship with the former Pontiff but who on his passiong hailed his “indefatigable struggle… to protect life from conception”. Many European states were represented, including by Spain’s King, the President of France Emmanuel Macron, and German President Steinmeier.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky also flew to Rome for the funeral, and as reported by a BBC journalist a smattering of applause broke out in the public crowd as he emerged onto the square.
As the ceremony began a little after 10:00 (0400 ET) Saturday morning, the Pope’s wood and zinc casket — now sealed after days of an open-face viewing for the public who crowded St Peter’s this week — was carried out onto the steps. Psalm verses were recited and sung before the crowd of hundreds of cardinals and bishops and a wider crowd estimated at several hundred thousand people.
After the Mass, the coffin will be taken to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major where it will be interred.
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – APRIL 26: Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21st at the age of 88. Born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become Pope when elected in 2013. Taking the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, he promoted a more humble version of the papacy than many of his predecessors. He will be buried outside of the Vatican in a simple wooden coffin at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump (C) and First Lady Melania Trump (C/R) stand alongside leaders including France’s President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb (2L) as they attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
This story is developing, more follows
