World Leaders, Mourners Bid Farewell As Pope Francis Buried In Rome
Pope Francis has been laid to rest in Rome Saturday after a Vatican funeral for the “pope among the people” attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders including US President Donald Trump.
Around 400,000 people packed St Peter’s Square and lined the streets in Rome to say goodbye to the Argentine pontiff, a champion of the poor who had led the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since 2013.
Pope Francis was buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, his favourite church in Rome, on Saturday afternoon, after a two-hour funeral service held in St Peter’s Square, the Holy See said.
Earlier, leaders and dignitaries from around the world attended his funeral service, held in St. Peter’s Square.
The pontiff died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
Some 150,000 people watched Pope Francis’ funeral procession through Rome from the roadside, according to estimates by the Vatican.
The convoy travelled through the centre of Rome, passing some of its best-known sites including the Forum and Colosseum, accompanied by several escort vehicles and police motorbikes.
Some 250,000 gathered for the funeral service, both in St Peter’s Square itself and in the surrounding streets.
In total, the authorities counted around 400,000 people, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said, according to media reports.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
