PanamaTimes

Saturday, May 31, 2025

World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral

Approximately 200,000 mourners attend the funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square, with global dignitaries present; the pontiff is interred at Santa Maria Maggiore, marking a departure from traditional Vatican burials.
Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday following a funeral Mass held in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.

The ceremony drew an estimated 200,000 attendees, including over 130 international delegations.

Notable figures present included U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Prince William representing King Charles III.

The funeral Mass commenced at 10:00 a.m. local time and was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

The service featured traditional liturgical elements, including prayers, readings, and hymns.

Cardinal Re highlighted Pope Francis's commitment to peace and inclusivity, recalling his frequent exhortation to "build bridges, not walls".

Prior to the ceremony, Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy held a private meeting within St. Peter's Basilica, marking their first in-person interaction since a previous exchange earlier this year.

A White House spokesperson described the discussion as "very productive".

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 due to a stroke, had expressed a desire for a modest funeral.

His coffin, made of wood and lined with zinc, was adorned solely with a crucifix and his papal coat of arms.

Following the Mass, a procession transported the pontiff's remains through Rome to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was interred.

This burial site holds personal significance, as Pope Francis frequently visited the basilica before and after international trips.

His interment there marks the first time in over a century that a pope has been buried outside the Vatican.

Security measures for the event were extensive, involving approximately 8,000 personnel, including Italian military forces, Vatican Swiss Guards, and specialized units equipped with anti-drone technology.

Surveillance was conducted via NATO aircraft, and naval assets were deployed along Italy's coastline to ensure the safety of attendees.

In accordance with Pope Francis's wishes, a group of 40 individuals from marginalized communities, including the homeless, migrants, and prisoners, participated in the ceremony at Santa Maria Maggiore.

They welcomed the coffin with white roses, reflecting the pontiff's commitment to social justice.

Over the three days preceding the funeral, approximately 250,000 people paid their respects as Pope Francis lay in state within St. Peter's Basilica.

The conclusion of the funeral initiates a nine-day mourning period, after which the College of Cardinals will convene in a conclave to elect the next pope.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Escalating Trade Tensions and Market Reactions
OnlyFans Reportedly in Talks for $8 Billion Sale
JBS Gains Shareholder Approval for U.S. Stock Listing
Booz Allen Hamilton to Cut 2,500 Jobs Amid Federal Spending Reductions
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Development
Harvard Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's International Student Ban
Nippon Steel Forms Partnership with U.S. Steel, Headquarters to Remain in Pittsburgh
Trump Expands Tariff Threats to Apple and Samsung Devices
Oracle and OpenAI Plan $40 Billion Nvidia Chip Purchase for AI Data Center
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on EU Goods, Markets React
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Former FBI Director James Comey Questioned by Secret Service Over Social Media Post
Mexican Influencer Valeria Márquez Killed During Livestream in Suspected Femicide
CIA Files Reveal Klaus Barbie's Role in Bolivian Drug Trade and Dictatorship Support
Daughter of crypto boss escapes Paris kidnap in latest in series of attacks
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Carney Secures Liberal Mandate in Canada’s Federal Election
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Depression, Fear of Defamation, and a Tragic End: New Details on Virginia Giuffre’s Suicide
Specialized anti-drone weapons deployed among security personnel Ahead of Papal Funeral
How do you fix this culture?
Corrupted from Within: How Deep State Power and Unelected Judges Hijacked Democracy Against the Will of the People
World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
El Salvador Proposes Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela Amid Deportation Controversy
US Government Defends Deportation of Salvadoran National Kilmar Abrego Garcia
A casino in Mexico burns at the hands of cartels
Pope Francis Makes Brief Appearance at Easter Sunday Mass
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
US Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Rapid Deportation Policy
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
×