"Pope Francis' Last Goodbye: A Grand Funeral, a Simple Burial."
Today Update News,April 26,2025,11.30 am
Pope Francis, the beloved pontiff whose humility, inclusivity, and compassion shaped his 12-year papacy, was laid to rest Saturday in a ceremony he had personally simplified.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners and dozens of world leaders gathered in St. Peter’s Square to honor the "people’s pope." Following the Mass, Francis' simple wooden coffin was transported on an open-air popemobile through Rome's cheering streets, culminating in his burial outside the Vatican.
Presiding over the funeral, 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re remembered Francis as “a pope among the people, with an open heart to all.”
“He connected directly with individuals and communities, especially those marginalized, giving of himself without measure," Re said.
As bells tolled and applause echoed, Francis’ coffin, adorned only with a cross, was carried into the square. Many mourners had camped overnight for a final goodbye.
"We have been waiting all night," said Maria Fierro from Spain. "It’s very emotional to accompany him in his last moments."
Sister James Mary, a Franciscan nun, stayed awake through the night. "We want to say goodbye because he was a living saint — humble and simple," she said.
A Life of Service, A Death of Simplicity
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, died on Easter Monday at 88 after suffering a stroke, weeks after battling respiratory issues. Just a day earlier, he surprised crowds with a spontaneous ride around St. Peter’s Square.
Known for rejecting extravagance — living in a guesthouse, riding public transit, wearing simple white cassocks — Francis also scaled back funeral rites a year ago, ensuring his own would reflect his lifelong message of modesty.
A Private Burial at St. Mary Major
After the public funeral, Francis’ coffin was taken to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major for a private burial attended by Catholic leaders and his family.
He requested to be buried in a simple ground tomb between the Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani and the Sforza Chapel — marking him as the first pope in nearly a century to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. His tomb bears only the inscription: Franciscus.
St. Mary Major held deep personal significance for Francis, who often prayed there before and after international trips.
The nearly 1,600-year-old basilica houses important relics, including the manger believed to have cradled the infant Jesus, and is the resting place of notable figures like artists Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his father, Pietro.
A Massive Gathering, a Procession Through Rome
More than 250,000 mourners attended the funeral Mass, joined by about 250 cardinals, patriarchs, bishops, and priests.
Francis’ coffin was transported in a white Mercedes-Benz popemobile through Rome's streets, draped with Vatican flags, to the Basilica.
Among those honoring him were 40 individuals representing communities Francis had championed — including people experiencing homelessness, migrants, prisoners, and transgender people. Four children placed white roses on his coffin.
Global Leaders Pay Respects
World leaders, including President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attended the funeral. Trump and Zelenskyy even held a brief private meeting ahead of the service, amid tensions over Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
Notably absent was Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant related to the Ukraine invasion.
Trump was seated in the front row — a departure from protocol established during Pope John Paul II’s funeral — his midnight blue suit contrasting the sea of black attire.
Trump and Francis had previously clashed over immigration and humanitarian policies, but at the funeral, all divisions were put aside in mutual respect.
Breaking with Tradition
Francis’ coffin also differed from tradition. Rather than three nested coffins of cypress, lead, and elm, his was a simple wooden one lined with zinc, a material used to hermetically seal and preserve remains against natural elements.
The coffin’s design — wide at the top and narrowing at the feet — echoed the human form.
Resting atop his coffin during the funeral was the Book of the Gospels, symbolizing Christ’s presence. This book also plays a vital role in the future conclave, when cardinals will pledge loyalty and secrecy before electing Francis' successor.
A Pope of the People, to the End
Cardinal Re emphasized Francis' lifelong message to "build bridges, not walls" — a sentiment Francis exemplified during his papacy, such as when he held Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border to highlight the plight of migrants.
A steadfast advocate for climate action, Francis often expressed frustration over global inaction. Former Secretary of State John Kerry recalled the pope’s deep concern about humanity’s slow response to environmental crises.
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