Over 2 lakh people, global leaders attend Pope Francis' funeral at Vatican

Vatican City: The funeral mass of Pope Francis, which began on Saturday afternoon India time, is being held in the iconic Baroque plaza before St. Peter’s Basilica. The event is being attended by world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. Vatican authorities report that around 200,000 people have gathered for the funeral, with over 100 delegations joining to pay their respects to the late Pope.

The solemn and moving ceremony is being presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is joined by about 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and consecrated religious. Cardinal Re began his homily by acknowledging the profound sadness of the occasion. "We are gathered with sad hearts in prayer around his mortal remains," he said.

In his homily, the cardinal reflected on the final days of Pope Francis's life, which were marked by declining health. "Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life," Cardinal Re shared. He also recalled the final image of Pope Francis, from Easter Sunday, when, despite his serious health problems, he chose to bless the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Describing Pope Francis as a "Pope among the people," the cardinal emphasized the late pontiff’s open heart and compassion for all. “Faced with the raging wars of recent years, with their inhuman horrors and countless deaths and destruction, Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice imploring peace, calling for reason, and inviting honest negotiation to find possible solutions,” Cardinal Re said. The Pope’s stance on war, he continued, was firm: “War results in the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals, and schools. War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone.”

As the homily concluded, Cardinal Re echoed Pope Francis's frequent request, "Do not forget to pray for me." He added, "Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world, as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God."

Following the funeral mass, Pope Francis will be buried at St. Mary Major, a basilica in Rome, marking the first time in over a century that a Pontiff will be laid to rest outside the Vatican Grottoes.

President Droupadi Murmu is leading the Indian delegation at the ceremony in Rome, accompanied by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State George Kurian, and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Joshua De Souza. The Indian delegation is joining more than 50 heads of state, 10 reigning monarchs, and 130 foreign delegations.

Among the distinguished global dignitaries present are US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Argentine President Javier Milei. From the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William have also attended. While Russian President Vladimir Putin is absent, Russia has sent its Culture Minister in his place.

With IANS inputs