Pope Francis Lula Oficial, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Pope Francis was laid to rest in a private burial ceremony at Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica on Saturday, following a solemn funeral Mass attended by global leaders and thousands of mourners. The service, held in St. Peter’s Square, drew a massive crowd, including Indian President Droupadi Murmu and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who gathered to pay tribute to the late pope.
Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, was honored for his enduring legacy as a “pope of the people.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who delivered the homily, highlighted Francis’s life of compassion and dedication, praising his mission to “build bridges, not walls.”
The funeral commenced at 1:30 p.m. IST in the grand setting of St. Peter’s Square, welcoming attendees from around the globe. With over 200,000 people present, the Vatican and Italian authorities enforced strict security protocols to ensure safety during one of the most historic papal funerals in recent memory.
Pope Francis, who assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, had been struggling with declining health in recent months. Despite suffering from double pneumonia, he made a final appearance just 20 hours before his death, delivering a poignant Easter message centered on peace and hope.
In the concluding homily, Cardinal Pietro Parolin reflected on Pope Francis’s enduring message of compassion and unity. He emphasized that Francis’s papacy was defined by a deep connection with ordinary people and a strong commitment to social justice, interfaith cooperation, and global unity. “His life stood as a symbol of kindness and the relentless pursuit of peace,” Parolin stated during the funeral service.
The funeral of Pope Francis marks the start of a formal nine-day mourning period. A second Mass of mourning is scheduled for Sunday, and the Vatican is expected to announce the official start date of the papal conclave in the coming days.
The conclave—a confidential gathering of cardinals under the age of 80—will convene in the Sistine Chapel approximately 15 to 20 days after the pope’s passing. The cardinals will vote in secret until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. If no decision is reached after 33 rounds of voting, a runoff will be held between the top two contenders.
During the interim period known as sede vacante, the College of Cardinals takes over administrative duties of the Vatican, although major decisions are postponed until a new pope is elected. Once a successor is chosen, the iconic white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel will signal the end of the conclave and the beginning of a new papacy.
As the world says goodbye to Pope Francis, his passing marks the close of a transformative era characterized by his pastoral leadership, dedication to Church reform, and advocacy for greater inclusivity. The funeral, attended by global dignitaries and countless mourners, highlighted the lasting influence he had on both the Catholic Church and the international community.
On April 26, 2025, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, attended the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The official Indian delegation, which included Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Shri George Kurian, and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri Joshua De Souza, also participated in the ceremony.
