Overview
- Pope Francis's state funeral began with a Requiem Mass in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
- An estimated 200,000 people gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects, with additional crowds watching on large screens throughout Rome.
- The funeral was attended by approximately 50 world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Security in Rome was unprecedented, with 10,000 personnel, anti-drone units, snipers, and fighter jets deployed to ensure safety during the event.
- Pope Francis was interred privately at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, fulfilling his wish for a modest burial outside the traditional papal tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica.