Pope Francis laid to rest: Around 400,000 mourners bid farewell to pontiff
Photo: In Rome, farewell held for Pope Francis (Getty Images)
On April 26, the Vatican bid farewell to Pope Francis, who was buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. According to a broadcast of the farewell ceremony and the Holy See Press Office, the pope's funeral was attended by approximately 400,000 people.
The farewell ceremony for Pope Francis began at 11:00 AM Kyiv time and lasted for over two hours. The liturgy took place at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
According to Italy's Minister of the Interior, around 400,000 faithful gathered at the main square and surrounding streets of the Vatican. Earlier, the Vatican press office had reported 250,000 attendees.
Among those who came to Italy to honor the pope's memory were over 50 world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Argentine President Javier Milei also attended the farewell ceremony. He had a special place, as Pope Francis was originally from Argentina.
After the liturgy, Pope Francis' coffin was carried through the streets of the Vatican and Rome. The procession lasted about 25 minutes. After the final route, the pope's coffin was taken to its final resting place — the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Why the Basilica of St. Mary Major is unique
In his last testament, Pope Francis requested to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This was meant to symbolize the simplicity and life values he upheld. He requested that his tomb be placed "in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus" (Francis). He also asked for the burial expenses to be covered "by a sum provided by a benefactor."
Francis is the first pope in a century to be buried outside St. Peter’s Basilica. He chose the basilica on the other side of the Tiber due to his special devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Photo: Pope Francis was buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major (wikipedia.org)
In addition to Francis, seven other popes are buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the most recent being Pope Leo XIII, who was interred there in 1903. Pope Francis visited this church every Sunday morning, before and after foreign trips, and also after hospital stays.
The Basilica of St. Mary Major is one of the four major basilicas in Rome. It is the largest of the 40 churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The basilica is also an extraterritorial area of the Vatican.
The death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21. The day before, on Easter Sunday, he appeared before the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. The cause of death was a stroke.
In his Easter blessing, he mentioned Ukraine and called for an end to the war.
In February 2025, his health significantly deteriorated. The pontiff was hospitalized due to pneumonia. He spent a month in the hospital. For more details on how the world said goodbye to Pope Francis, follow the link.
