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

Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis was buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica

In his will, Pope Francis gave simple instructions for his burial: “The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”

The burial is not being broadcast live. A rosary will be held outside the basilica, which will be open to visitors from Sunday morning.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have left Rome on board Air Force One. The pair departed right after the funeral mass of Pope Francis ended at the Vatican.

Francis said that, throughout his life, he had always entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary. He prayed at Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore throughout his days in the Papal office.

“For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore,” he wrote in his will.

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, CNN reported.

Huge crowds were already growing outside the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where Pope Francis will be buried.

The Papal procession is traveling from the Vatican to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a church in Rome.

The basilica is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from the Vatican. Officials said the procession will proceed at a walking pace, allowing the thousands of mourners packing Rome’s streets to get a final glimpse of the coffin, CNN reported.

The Vatican said in a statement that more than 250,000 people gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday.

Pope Francis’ 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.

Pope Francis’ coffin has been carried through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica for a final time. The bells tolled slowly as the coffin approached the main altar of the basilica.

The pallbearers have lifted Pope Francis’ coffin and are taking it back into St. Peter’s Basilica, CNN reported.

The crowd burst into applause.

Priests have distributed the Holy Communion at Pope Francis' funeral

In front of hundreds of world leaders attending the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re called for care for migrants, an end to wars, and action on global climate change - Francis' favourite political themes.

Re repeated one of the pope's strongest criticisms of U.S. President Donald Trump, with Trump himself present in the crowd, by calling to "build bridges, not walls".

Police helicopters whirled overhead, part of the massive security operation Italian authorities mounted, including more than 2,500 police, 1,500 soldiers and a torpedo ship off the coast,

The Prince of Wales has paid respects to Pope Francis at his coffin in St Peter's Square in Rome, on behalf of the King.

William, side by side with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, stood for a moment’s silence in front of Pope Francis’s sealed wooden and zinc coffin in its place before the altar in St Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis' funeral homily said that the pontiff urged "reason and honest negotiation" over conflicts.

Pope Francis' funeral homily, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, said that the late pontiff believed that "Church is home for all".

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is presiding over Pope Francis' funeral mass, recalled the pontiff's "countless" efforts for refugees.

Presiding over the funeral mass of Pope Francis, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said, "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."

As the funeral mass of Pope Francis is underway at the St Peter's Square, the homily said that the pontiff "was among the people, with an open heart".

Pope Francis funeral news live: White House official has also confirmed that US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and had a "very productive discussion" on Saturday.

Trump and Zelensky were present in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis funeral news live: The Vatican has said that 200,000 people are present at the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis funeral news live: US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly held a meeting in Rome, where the two leaders are present for the funeral of Pope Francis.

According to Zelensky's spokesman, as cited by Reuters, the meeting between the two leaders has concluded.