Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope and a strong voice for the poor. The 88-year-old pontiff died on Monday after suffering a stroke and heart failure, just weeks after battling pneumonia.
Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was known for his compassion, humility, and focus on helping the marginalized. His simple style and calls for reform won him admiration around the world—but also drew criticism from traditionalists and some political leaders.
The funeral began at 10:00 a.m., with an estimated 200,000 attendees, including over 50 heads of state. Security was tight, with a no-fly zone, fighter jets on standby, and rooftop snipers.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, former President Joe Biden, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and numerous world leaders and royals were in attendance. A meeting between Trump and Zelensky may happen on the sidelines, according to officials.
Francis’s final public act was an Easter blessing calling for care for the poor and vulnerable—an echo of his lifelong mission. He chose the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi and often said he wanted “a poor Church for the poor.”
Unlike most popes, he lived in a guesthouse rather than the papal palace and will be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, a Rome church he loved. His funeral includes 224 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests. After the service, the coffin will travel through Rome, passing historic sites before being laid to rest.
Francis asked for a simple wooden coffin and a modest marble tomb. Among those present at his burial will be refugees he once helped bring to safety, and the poor and homeless he championed throughout his papacy.