Pope Francis' funeral draws massive crowds at Vatican

Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican drew massive crowds, with the Vatican estimating that more than 250,000 people attended the ceremony held in St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets. Tens of thousands of mourners had queued since early morning and even overnight to secure a place to pay their respects during the funeral Mass and the preceding days of lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica, where about 250,000 people filed past his coffin over three days. The funeral was a solemn event attended by a broad spectrum of dignitaries, including approximately 250 cardinals, about 400 bishops, 4,000 priests, 12 reigning monarchs, and 55 heads of state such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others. The gathering also included ordinary pilgrims from around the world, reflecting Pope Francis' global influence and appeal. During the Mass, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the homily, urging the Church to honor Pope Francis' legacy of supporting migrants, the marginalized, and environmental causes, emphasizing that there should be no turning back from his vision of a more inclusive Church. The funeral service included Latin hymns and prayers in multiple languages, underscoring the universal nature of the Catholic Church. After the Mass, Pope Francis' coffin was carried out of the basilica and transported through Rome in a ceremonial procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he requested to be buried-a departure from the tradition of burial inside the Vatican, marking the first time in over a century a pope was interred outside the Vatican walls. The procession route passed by iconic Roman landmarks such as the Colosseum, with crowds along the way chanting and waving signs in tribute. The massive turnout and the presence of world leaders also set the stage for significant diplomatic moments, including a notable meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy inside St. Peter's Basilica, described as "potentially historic". The funeral marked the beginning of nine days of mourning (Novemdiales) and will be followed by a conclave of cardinals to elect Pope Francis' successor, expected to take place in early May. In summary, Pope Francis' funeral was a historic and deeply moving event that drew hundreds of thousands of mourners from across the globe to the Vatican, reflecting his impactful 12-year papacy characterized by humility, outreach to the marginalized, and calls for peace and environmental stewardship.