Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome
Thousands of mourners gathered in St Peter’s Square on Saturday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, as politicians and royalty joined the funeral procession. According to a report by the BBC, hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, as 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re gave a homily on the Pope’s legacy.
The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of dignitaries, and was followed by a procession of the Pope’s coffin through the streets of Rome. The BBC reported that huge crowds lined the streets, clapping and waving as the hearse – a repurposed white popemobile – crossed the Tiber river and drove past some of Rome’s most recognisable sights: the Colosseum, the Forum and the Altare della Patria national monument on Piazza Venezia. Authorities estimated that 140,000 people had turned out to pay their respects.
As reported by the BBC, the Pope’s coffin was carried to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where it will remain until further notice. The basilica is one of Rome’s four major archbasilicas and is a significant pilgrimage site for Catholics.
On Sunday, images of Pope Francis’s tomb at the church were released, showing a single white rose lying on the stone that bears the name he was known by during his pontificate, below a crucifix illuminated by a single spotlight. The BBC noted that the images provided a poignant glimpse into the Pope’s final resting place.
The funeral and burial of Pope Francis marked the end of an era for the Catholic Church, and saw an outpouring of grief from around the world. As the BBC reported, politicians and royalty joined thousands of ordinary people in paying their respects to the Pope.
In a statement, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praised the Pope’s legacy, saying that he had left an indelible mark on the Church. The BBC quoted the Cardinal as saying that the Pope’s commitment to social justice and his compassion for the poor and vulnerable would be remembered for generations to come.
The BBC will continue to provide coverage of the Pope’s funeral and burial, as well as analysis and commentary on the impact of his passing on the Catholic Church and the world at large.
