Pope Francis funeral updates: Pontiff buried in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, Vatican says

Pope Francis funeral news live: US President Donald Trump and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen shook hands at the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica on Saturday.

The two were among several other world leaders present at the funeral.

Pope Francis funeral news live: As the funeral of the late pontiff begins at Vatican, his wooden coffin was carried into St Peter's Square on Saturday.

Applause rang out as the wooden coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was brought out of St Peter's Basilica and into the sun-filled square by white-gloved, black suited pallbearers.

Pope Francis funeral news live: The funeral of late Pope Francis has begun at St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Pope Francis funeral news live: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's office has, as per Reuters, said that he is meeting with US President Donald Trump in Rome.

The bells of St Peter's Basilica tolled on Saturday ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis as several dignitaries from across the globe took their respective seats in the piazza following individual moments of prayer in front of his coffin.

Sharing the images of President Droupadi Murmu's homage to Pope Francis in Rome, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the last respects and said that the "world will always remember his service to society".

Indian President Droupadi Murmu paid her homage to the late Pope Francis at his coffin at St Peter's Basilica on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump paid respects to Pope Francis at his coffin after arriving at the Vatican on Saturday.

According to an AFP report, some 140,000 people are present at the St Peter's Square for the funeral of the late Pope Francis.

US President Donald Trump has arrived for the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. He, along with his wife Melania Trump, will pay their last respects to the late pontiff.

Pope Francis is set to be laid to rest at Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday.

Here are some key quotes from the late pontiff's 11-year-long papacy:

• The pope's message for the poor - Three days after his election in March 2013, the pope said, “How I would like a poor church for the poor.”
• In 2018 he also told a gay man, “God made you like this and he loves you.” He also stated in an interview in 2023, “Being a homosexual is not a crime.”
• Pope Francis ended every speech with the words, “Pray for me.” When asked about this statement, he explained, “I am a sinner too.”
• In 2016, the pontiff said, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian,” referring to US President Donald Trump's statements on banning immigrants during his first term in office.
• In November, 2024, the Pope, expressed his sympathy for “those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory.”

Known for his humble demeanor and deep compassion for the poor, Pope Francis won admiration around the globe.

He earned the nickname "the pope of the slums" for his deep commitment to the poor and marginalized. Throughout his ministry — both in Argentina and as pope — he regularly visited impoverished communities, advocating for social justice and the Church’s role as a refuge for the overlooked and oppressed.

Full report here

Pope Francis' funeral will take place in Rome on Saturday and he will be laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.

His final message to the world on Easter pleaded for peace and freedom.

"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others. Nor is peace possible without true disarmament! The requirement that every person provide for their defence must not turn into a race to rearmament," Pope Francis said in his Easter message.

"May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace," said Pope.

Pope Francis, the Argentinian pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, died on Monday at the age of 88 years.

He will be laid to rest in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica on Saturday.

The Catholic Church now has to look at the process of electing a new leader. The election of a pope follows a centuries-old tradition and is guided by strict rules and holds deep religious significance.

The College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials worldwide, chooses the pope. Following a pope’s death or resignation, the cardinals are summoned to the Vatican for the papal election or conclave.

Read full report here

The night before the funeral, the coffin of Pope Francis was closed and sealed under the presidence of the camerlengo.

In the process, a white cloth was placed over the pontiff's face.

In the process, a bag containing coins minted during his papacy was placed in the coffin along with a one-page written account of his papacy, known as 'rogito' in Italian.

The rogito was ready aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies and then rolled up and slipped inside a cylindrical tube that was placed inside the coffin. Another copy is kept in the Vatican archives.

The wooden and zinc coffins bear a cross and Francis' papal coat of arms.

Pope Francis' body was kept for public viewing for three days and it came to an end on Friday. Around 250,000 mourners viewed the pontiff's body during this period, the Vatican said.

However, hundred of disappointed people were also turned away when authorities closed St Peter's Square hours before the viewing period ended.

President Donald Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, might share an awkward moment at Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday as the two are expected to be seated close by, in the third row, according to the funeral seating plan.

While the Vatican has not released official details yet, Polish pontiff John Paul II's funeral in 2005 offered insights into seating arrangements.

Read full report here

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, said a Ukrainian presidential spokesman on Saturday, Reuters reported.

On the eve of Pope Francis' funeral, the Vatican said that some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state period.

As many as 200,000 people are likely to attend Pope Francis' funeral in St Peter's Square on Saturday.

The ceremony, which will witness in attendance several dignitaries from across the globe, is also one big event for the mourners in Rome.

Mourners are rushing to get themselves a standing room spot in the Square.

Though it will not be possible for mourners to follow the funeral procession, members of the public will be able to watch it pass by from behind metal barriers placed along the route.

The key points of the Pope Francis' funeral route are:

• Porta del Perugino (a western gate out of the Vatican City)
• Crossing the River Tiber
• Corso Vittorio Emanuele
• Piazza Venezia
• Via dei Fori Imperiali
• Colosseum
• Via Labicana
• Via Merulana

The coffin will arrive at Santa Maria Maggiore and then the burial, presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will take place in private.

Before Pope Francis is laid to rest, a funeral mass will take place under the presidence of Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

The ceremony, which will be around 90-minutes-long, will have in attendance 224 cardinals, and 750 priests and bishops.

In chronological order, the funeral mass will witness:

• Reading of liturgical texts
• A homily by Cardinal Re
• A universal prayer in several languages
• The consecration of the bread and wine
• Participants exchanging a sign of peace or handshake
• The Eucharist
• A moment of silence
• The sprinkling of holy water on the coffin

At the end of the mass, the pontiff's coffin will be taken inside St Peter's Basilica.

The funeral of Pope Francis will begin with the opening of St Peter's Square. Following which a funeral mass will begin. This will be presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

The ceremony is likely to last for about 90 minutes, with 224 cardinals, 750 priests and bishops in attendance.

After the end of the mass, the coffin will be taken inside the St Peter's Basilica. Following this, the coffin will be taken to Santa Maria Maggiore, where the pontiff will be laid to rest.

Taiwan's envoy, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, who will attend the Pope Francis' funeral in Rome on Saturday said that he aims to use his presence there to "have a good chat" with world leaders who are friendly to Taipei.

Chen said he would do his best to have "good interactions" with other countries whose leaders are also going to the funeral, a Reuters report said.

Taiwan's Central News Agency said that Chen "will seize the opportunity to have a good chat, even if it is just a few words, that's important, which is an opportunity to increase friendly relations".

Here's a guest list of leaders from African countries:

ANGOLA: President Joao Lourenco

BURUNDI: Vice President Prosper Bazombanza

CAPE VERDE: President Jose Maria Neves

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: President Faustin-Archange Touadera

DR CONGO: President Felix Tshisekedi

GABON: President Brice Oligui Nguema

KENYA: President William Ruto

LESOTHO: King Letsie III

MADAGASCAR: President Andry Rajoelina

MOROCCO: Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch

MOZAMBIQUE: President Daniel Chapo

SEYCHELLES: President Wavel Ramkalawan

SIERRA LEONE: President Julius Maada Bio

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Cardinal Stephen Brislin, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference

TOGO: President Faure Gnassingbe