Pope Francis Funeral Live: Funeral concludes after more than 2 hours of service, coffin arrives at Rome church for burial

At least 400,000 people turned out for Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican and lined Rome’s streets, Italy’s interior minister said.

Pope Francis’ “insistence” on working for the poor was woven into today’s funeral events, with groups of underprivileged people invited to watch the service in St. Peter’s Square.

Those involved were chosen by the charity, Sant’Egidio, and they represented groups he felt were marginalized – including the homeless, migrants, the impoverished and a group of transgender women who live in a convent in Rome.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have left Rome on board Air Force One. The two departed very swiftly after the funeral mass ended at the Vatican. 

Pope Francis’ coffin has arrived at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Pallbearers have lifted Francis’ coffin from the popemobile and are carrying it into the basilica.

Pope Francis' funeral has now concluded. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica have tolled, bringing the service to an end after 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Pope's coffin will now be transported across the River Tiber to Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, where bells are also now ringing ahead of the arrival of the pontiff’s body.

The funeral mass for Pope Francis has ended now and his coffin will be carried in a procession to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome for burial. 

The procession will leave Vatican City and follow a route over the Tiber River and then through central Rome to Piazza Venezia, passing by the Colosseum, before turning northward to arrive at Santa Maria Maggiore.

Marking another break in tradition, Pope will be buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood

However, most popes have decided to be laid to ret in the grottoes beneath St Peter’s. 

More than 250,000 people assembled at St Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis, the Vatican said on Saturday.

“The competent authority informs us that, while the funeral of Pope Francis has ended, more than 250,000 people are present,” said the Vatican in a brief statement.

The cardinals are getting up from their seats in St. Peter’s Square and proceeding back into the basilica, while the pallbearers make their way forward to lift the coffin.

Ukraine's presidency has released photos of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meeting in St. Peter’s Basilica. 

The two are seen sitting face to face in an empty area of the basilica. The White House described their talks as "productive". 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to receive a round of applause as he attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, according to the PA news agency.

The crowd of assembled world leaders could be heard clapping as the Ukrainian president left St Peter’s Basilica

Now they are witnessing a period of reflection before the final part of the service – the commendation of the pope’s soul to heaven. 

“Let us commend to God’s tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, Bishop of the Catholic Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection,” said Cardinal Re, in Latin.

Priests and other celebrants are distributing Holy Communion among the cardinals – the bread and wine, representing the body and blood of Christ. 

Pope Francis urged "reason and honest negotiation" in efforts to end 'conflicts raging around the world, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said. 

"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 and calling for reason and honest negotiation to find possible solutions," he said.

Pope Francis, who famously refused to judge gay or divorced Catholics, believed the Church "is a home for all", Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said.

He was driven by "the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open... a Church capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds", he said.

Pope Francis was "a pope among the people, with an open heart", who strove for a more compassionate Catholic Church, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said Saturday in his funeral homily.

"He established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalised, the least among us. He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone," he said.

The White House said Saturday that US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky had a "very productive" meeting ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis. 

"President Trump and President Zelensky met privately today and had a very productive discussion," said White House communications director Steven Cheung, saying more details would follow. 

The grand funeral of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader, began on Saturday morning in the presence of world leaders and tens of thousands of mourners.

After waiting in sombre silence, the crowd in St Peter's Square began clapping as the pontiff's coffin was brought out in solemn procession shortly after 10:00 am (0800 GMT).

Around 200,000 people attended the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, the Vatican said.

Italian police had earlier put the number at around 150,000, with roughly 50,000 people filling St Peter's Square.

The funeral mass began with the entrance antiphon, which is a selection of psalm verses or scripture passages. They are traditionally sung or recited. 

The 88-page order of service has been published on the Vatican’s website (NB: opens as pdf) and contains the service in English, Italian and Latin.

Read the entrance antiphon:

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Praise is due to you in Sion, O God. To you we pay our vows in Jerusalem.

You who hear our prayer. To you all flesh will come.

Our evil deeds are too heavy for us, but only you can pardon our transgressions.

Blessed the one whom you choose and call to dwell in your courts.

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

And with your spirit.

The Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals, is leading the funeral mass. 

US President Doandl Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zerlensky in rome after arrive for Pope Francis' funeral, said Ukraine spokesperson. 

The funeral service is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

Born in Brescia, Italy, the 91-year-old has spent five decades serving in the Roman curia after he was ordained in 1957. In 2001, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him as a cardinal.

Pope Francis’s funeral has begun, with live TV coverage showing his coffin being carried out from St Peter’s Basilica out into St Peter’s Square.

Prince William, attending the funeral on behalf of King Charles, has arrived. Dignitaries can be seen taking their seats on live TV coverage, with Pope Francis’s funeral mass to begin in just a few minutes.

Trump arrives at Pope Francis’s funeral

During Pope Francis’s funeral heads of state and dignitaries will be seated on the right side, facing St Peter’s Basilica.

It’s reported that Argentine president Javier Milei, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian president Sergio Mattarella will be seated in the front row. Reigning sovereigns will be seated in the next row, followed by the various heads of state, according to the French alphabetical order corresponding to the name of their country.

Former US President Joe Biden and wife wife Jill arrive for Pope Francis' funeral. 

Pope Francis' funeral: THESE world leaders to be there

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could meet US leader Donald Trump in Rome, where they are attending the funeral Saturday of Pope Francis, a senior official told AFP.

"The two presidents could meet," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Trump claimed on Friday the warring parties Russia and Ukraine were "very close to a deal".

After reports that he won;t be attenditng it, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Rome Saturday to attend Pope Francis's funeral, his spokesman said.

"Volodymyr Zelensky, First Lady Olena Zelenska ... will take part in the ceremony," Sergiy Nykyforov said. Zelensky had said on Friday he was not sure if he would have the time to go to Rome for the funeral.

Pope Francis, the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, will be laid to rest on Saturday (Apr 26) in Rome. Pope Francis passed away on April 21, aged 88. He died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, less than a month after returning home from five weeks in hospital battling double pneumonia.

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As per a report on DailyMail, Trump is expected to get a 'third-tier seat' despite being among the first to confirm that he would be attending the service. Trump would miss the front row because as per precedence front row would be given to Catholic royalty. Reports also suggest that the seating arrangement is not in order of importance but according to alphabetical order — in French.

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