Today's Edition
Rome (dpa)
Pope Francis' coffin arrived at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in central Rome for his burial on Saturday after a two-hour service in St Peter's Square attended by world leaders, clergy and some 250,000 onlookers.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re led the Requiem Mass in the forecourt of St Peter's Basilica on Saturday morning.
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More than 200 cardinals and some 4,000 other clergy attended the service alongside international politicians.
"He touched hearts," the cardinal said. "Countless were his gestures and exhortations in favour of refugees and displaced persons and he was also tireless in his commitment to the poor."
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Re thanked the mourners for coming and for the global outbreak of sympathy following Francis's death on Easter Monday.
After the service, the pontiff's coffin was transported across Rome in a converted popemobile from St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to his chosen resting place in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major near Rome's main train station.
Before carrying the coffin away from St Peter's Square, the pallbearers briefly raised it slightly to allow Francis a final look upon Rome, in keeping with Vatican tradition.
World leaders arrive in #Vatican to pay final respects to Pope Francis #AletihadNewsCenter #popefrancisfuneral #PopeFrancis #popefrancisdeath pic.twitter.com/GVkSP5cKCG
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Onlookers in the square and surrounding streets applauded as the ceremony came to end. Many had watched the service on large screens nearby.
Civil defence staff distributed bottles of water near the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where people stood shoulder to shoulder in the blazing sun.
The late pontiff's burial is closed to the public. Francis' close associates, cardinals and his personal nurse are among those in attendance, along with some poor and homeless people at the pope's request.
Francis worked for peace, cardinal says
During the funeral service, Re also highlighted Francis' opposition to violence and conflict.
"In the face of the many wars raging in recent years, with their inhuman atrocities, their countless deaths and their immeasurable destruction, Pope Francis raised his voice incessantly to ask for peace and to call for reason," the cardinal said.
"After war, the world is always worse off than before. It is always a painful and dramatic defeat for everyone."
Also in attendance was US President Donald Trump, who listened on as Re said that Francis had always urged people to build bridges "and not walls."
Donald #Trump, Melania Trump pay their respects to Pope Francis #AletihadNewsCenter #USA #Vatican #PopeFrancis #Pope pic.twitter.com/IfcSpjWy0h
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The late pope shared people's fears, suffering and hopes "with great human warmth and deep sensitivity," the cardinal said.
High security across Rome
Tight security measures were in place across Rome, with around 10,000 security personnel deployed to ensure that the large-scale event ran smoothly.
Helicopters, snipers, dog units and soldiers with anti-drone technology were also deployed, and the Italian military had fighter jets on standby.
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Numerous international politicians attended the funeral service alongside Zelensky and Trump. Among others, President Javier Milei from Francis' home country of Argentina, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid their respects.
Francis' resting place
Francis is the first pope not to be interred in St Peter's Basilica in more than a century, opting instead for the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which he visited frequently throughout his 12-year papacy.
A document placed in his coffin according to Catholic rites reads: "Francis left everyone an admirable testimony of humanity, holy living and universal fatherhood."
Francis died at 88 on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke, followed by a coma and heart failure, having in recent weeks battled acute respiratory failure, arterial hypertension and other ailments.
