Vatican City witnessed a dignified and poignant farewell as clergy in vibrant red, white, purple, and black vestments gathered alongside global dignitaries, including prominent world leaders seated on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica for an outdoor service. At the heart of the ceremony was a modest cypress coffin, surrounded by haunting chants and embraced by nearly 200,000 mourners within Bernini’s iconic colonnade.
The Roman Catholic Church bid its final goodbye to Pope Francis, the first pontiff from South America, whose twelve-year leadership combined humility with a pastoral vision that both revitalized and sparked debate within the Church. He passed away at the age of 88.
On a warm and clear day in Rome, a diverse assembly gathered, including refugees and homeless individuals—groups Pope Francis ardently supported—alongside presidents, prime ministers, and cardinals, one of whom will ascend as the next pope.
In his homily delivered in Italian, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re described Pope Francis as “a shepherd among his people, with an open heart for all.” He emphasized that the late pontiff viewed the Church as “a home for everyone, with its doors perpetually open.” Passages were also read in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
Ahead of the funeral, priests from Myanmar recalled how Pope Francis invigorated their modest community during his visit and elevated their bishop to cardinal. Pilgrims from Ecuador expressed feeling personally acknowledged by the pope, while more conservative clergy from the Czech Republic remained uncertain about his legacy.
As the funeral bells tolled, St. Peter’s Square fell into a respectful silence, broken only by the distant calls of seagulls. The pope’s coffin was carried through a corridor formed by cardinals clad in vivid red vestments, accompanied by a choir performing a solemn psalm.
The simple coffin was placed near the towering statue of Saint Peter, the Church’s first pope. A gentle breeze fluttered the pages of an open Gospel resting atop the casket. Bright sunlight made it difficult for mourners to see the service broadcast on large screens spread across the expansive piazza.
During the ritual “sign of peace,” President Trump exchanged handshakes with French President Emmanuel Macron and other nearby global leaders. Numerous priests moved through the crowd to distribute communion to attendees.
Applause erupted as pallbearers carried the coffin back into the basilica, while some mourners held signs reading “Thank you Francis” and “Goodbye Father.”
Pope Francis had requested a pared-down final Mass, reducing traditional ceremony and spectacle. Yet, even simplicity in a papal funeral carries significant grandeur.
Following the service, the popemobile, a symbol of his outreach as it carried him countless times around St. Peter’s Square and across the globe, transported his body to St. Mary Major, a church he cherished deeply. The Vatican announced that a group of “poor and needy” would welcome him at the steps before a private burial in a tomb inscribed simply with “Franciscus” and adorned with a cross frieze.
As the funeral procession moved slowly through Rome, large crowds lined the streets, their faces marked by the unusual absence of the pope’s characteristic wave.
Francis’s Favorite Artwork
One of Pope Francis’s cherished pieces of art was Caravaggio’s “Calling of St. Matthew,” displayed in a chapel near his former residence in Rome before his papacy. The painting captures the moment Jesus calls Matthew, who is depicted in a black velvet hat and appears surprised, pointing to himself in disbelief.
Reflecting on the artwork after becoming pope, Francis remarked, “It is Matthew’s gesture that resonates with me. This was my own reaction when asked if I would accept the papal election.”
