Pope Francis funeral updates: Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000
Francis died on April 26 at 88 years old.
Last updated: Saturday, April 26, 2025 12:00PM GMT
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was remembered Saturday during a historic funeral ceremony.
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was buried Saturday, April 26 at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.
Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years.
Tap on the blue circle to take a look at photos from the funeral for Pope Francis.
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The coffin of Pope Francis arrives at St. Mary Major Basilica for his burial ceremony, in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
AP Photo/Antonietta Baldassarre
Apr 26, 2025, 8:31 AM GMT
Pope Francis' funeral Mass begins in a packed St. Peter's Square
As the funeral of Pope Francis began, a choir was heard singing an antiphon in Latin, a short verse which is traditionally sung or recited in Christian liturgical ritual.
Pallbearers carry the coffin into St. Petere's Square during the funeral of Pope Francis, April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.
An open Book of the Gospels was then placed on top of Pope Francis' coffin as the service started.
The book of the gospels lays on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican, April 26, 2025.
Tens of thousands flocked to the funeral in a packed St. Peter's Square, which Francis choreographed himself when he revised and simplified the Vatican's rites and rituals last year.
Clergy are seated for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Apr 28, 2025, 10:14 PM GMT
Pallbearers carry Pope Francis' simple wooden coffin
Pallbearers carried the coffin of Pope Francis, adorned with just a crucifix and his coat of arms, down the central aisle of St. Peter's Basilica and out into the square at the start of his funeral.
Cardinals in rich red robes formed a double line in St. Peter's Basilica, flanking the coffin as it was carried into the square, where the crowd erupted in applause in a sign of respect.
Apr 26, 2025, 8:21 AM GMT
Crowd applauds Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
A mostly calm crowd that has gathered in St. Peter's Square on Saturday morning broke out into applause when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared on the screens dotted around the square.
Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy, center, arrives for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Zelenskyy is sitting with many other world leaders and dignitaries who have made their way from around the world to say goodbye to Pope Francis.
Apr 26, 2025, 8:19 AM GMT
Pope Francis and Donald Trump clashed over the treatment of migrants
Even as President Donald Trump attends Pope Francis' funeral, the two men clashed repeatedly, including as far back as Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, over how to treat migrants.
In 2016, Pope Francis criticized Trump over his pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ivanka Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and President Donald Trump stand with Pope Francis during a meeting, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at the Vatican.
"A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Pope Francis said while on a trip to Mexico. "This is not in the gospel."
Trump responded at the time that he was "proud to be a Christian" and that "no leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith." He also suggested the Mexican government had used him as a "pawn" and convinced him to make the remarks.
This year, one day before Trump was inaugurated for his second term, Pope Francis commented on his plan to carry out mass deportations.
"If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the imbalance. It won't do. This is not the way to solve things," he said.
