millions gather for Pope Francis' funeral

A deep atmosphere of mourning was created in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on the occasion of the funeral of the late Pope Francis. Representatives from more than 150 countries around the world, heads of state and government, and members of the European royal family, and millions of people gathered to pay their last respects to this great man.

The Pope's final prayer service began at 2 pm local time on Saturday (April 26). About 250,000 people gathered in the vast basilica courtyard and adjacent streets. Vatican authorities said that the departure of Francis, who served as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years of history, was unusually strong and deep.

World leaders in attendance included former US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, former US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, UK King Charles III, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and many others.

Also present were the presidents of Italy, the Philippines, Germany, Argentina, Poland and Gabon, and the prime ministers of the UK and New Zealand, as well as members of various European royal families.

Francis' body lay in state for three days in the 16th-century St. Peter's Basilica. From Wednesday morning to Friday evening, about 250,000 people paid their respects by his coffin. On Saturday morning, the funeral began with the body being carried out through the main door of the basilica.

The late pope's coffin was flanked by foreign guests on one side of the prayer service, and more than a hundred cardinals, who wore red hats, participated on the other. Giovanni Battista Re, a 91-year-old Italian priest, led the hour-long prayer service.

Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina, died last week at the age of 88. Since his death, the Catholic Church of more than 150 million followers has been observing traditional farewell rituals.

After the final prayers, his body was taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was laid to rest. During his lifetime, Pope Francis earned exceptional respect worldwide for speaking out for the poor and marginalized, fighting climate change and protecting migrants.

The burial marks the beginning of a nine-day period of mourning. Then, the world will turn its attention to the election of a new pope, which will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church.