Tens of thousands of mourners packed St. Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a tireless advocate for the poor, as world leaders and dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects.
The Argentine pope, who passed away Monday at 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, was remembered as a transformative figure who sought to modernize the Catholic Church while championing social justice, migrants’ rights, and environmental stewardship. His 12-year papacy reshaped the Vatican’s global image, though it also drew criticism from traditionalists and political leaders at odds with his progressive reforms.
A Global Gathering
The solemn ceremony, set to begin at 10:00 AM (0800 GMT), drew an estimated 200,000 attendees, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prince William. More than 50 heads of state were in attendance, prompting an unprecedented security operation involving a no-fly zone, fighter jets on standby, and rooftop snipers around Vatican City.
Some mourners, like Andrea Ugalde, 39, of Los Angeles, traveled across the world to witness the historic event. “He wasn’t just the pope—he embodied what it means to be human,” she said. Others, such as Peruvian Gabriela Lazo, 41, camped overnight with her children, calling Francis “a South American pope who will forever remain in our hearts.”
A Legacy of Reform and Controversy
Pope Francis’s tenure was marked by bold reforms, including allowing divorced Catholics to receive communion, approving blessings for same-sex couples, and baptizing transgender believers—moves that angered conservatives but endeared him to progressive followers. Yet he maintained traditional Church stances, including its opposition to abortion.
His outspoken criticism of global injustices—from migrant mistreatment to climate change—often put him at odds with world leaders. President Trump, whose immigration policies Francis had condemned, arrived late Friday, calling the pontiff “a good man who loved the world.” Meanwhile, Israel, upset over his remarks on Gaza, sent only its ambassador, and China, which lacks formal Vatican ties, did not send a representative.
A Humble Farewell
True to his modest nature, Francis requested a simple wooden coffin and burial in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica—breaking a century-old tradition of popes being interred within Vatican walls. His final journey will pass through Rome’s ancient landmarks, with a group of “the poor and needy” greeting his hearse, in line with his lifelong mission to uplift marginalized communities.
Following the funeral, the Vatican will observe nine days of official mourning before cardinals convene to elect a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
As the global Catholic community reflects on his legacy, Lara Amado, 25, of Buenos Aires, captured the sentiment of many: “The pope showed us there was another way to live the faith.”
