Photo credit: www.vogue.com
The funeral of Pope Francis unfolded in an atmosphere of solemnity, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims and mourners, alongside numerous dignitaries and heads of state, to St. Peter’s Square.
The late pontiff, who passed away on Easter Monday, had been lying in state within St. Peter’s Basilica for a period of three days prior to the burial.
The mass took place outdoors at 10 AM local time, witnessing an attendance surpassing 250,000 individuals.
In addition to the public, over 130 delegations were present, including notable figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who were reported to have engaged in a productive discussion before the ceremony commenced. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside former U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, were also in attendance.
The respectful ceremony lasted just over two hours, featuring red-robed cardinals and priests from various countries who administered Communion to the gathered pilgrims. The sounds of Latin hymns and Gregorian chants resonated throughout the piazza, complementing the clear blue sky. While the crowd maintained a reverent silence, spontaneous applause erupted as pallbearers carried Pope Francis’s coffin through the majestic doors of St. Peter’s Basilica for the final time.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who presided over the service, remarked in his homily that Francis was a “pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone.” He noted that Pope Francis embodied a rich human warmth and a profound sensitivity to contemporary challenges, emphasizing his empathy for the anxieties and hopes of our globalized world. Cardinal Re acknowledged Francis’s unwavering commitment to advocating for peace and supporting refugees and displaced individuals across the globe.
“In the face of the destructive wars of recent years, marked by unspeakable horrors, Pope Francis relentlessly sought peace,” Re proclaimed. “He called for reason, urging genuine dialogue to explore potential solutions. War leads to loss of life and the devastation of homes, hospitals, and schools, leaving the world in a worse state than it found itself; it is a collective defeat for all,” he stated, delivering poignant remarks to a gathering of some of the world’s most influential leaders who traveled to Vatican City for this historic occasion.
The assembly in the piazza presented a striking tableau, a vibrant mix of black, red, and white: the crimson robes of the cardinals blended with the solemn black attire of the delegations, while the white garments of conducting priests and clergy added to the visual narrative. Further afield, additional hues of purple, white, and black characterized the vestments of attending clergy.
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www.vogue.com