Pope Francis Remembered as ‘Pope of the People’ in Historic Funeral Attended by World Leaders and the Forgotten

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preCharge News ENTERTAINMENT — The world converged on St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, where some 250,000 mourners gathered under brilliant spring skies to bid farewell to Pope Francis — a leader celebrated for championing the marginalized over the mighty.

While presidents, princes, and prime ministers occupied front-row seats, the Pope’s spirit resonated strongest among the homeless, migrants, and prisoners who will greet his coffin at St. Mary Major Basilica, where he requested a humble burial.

A Funeral Marked by Youthful Joy and Reverent Sorrow

The crowd, energized by young pilgrims originally drawn to Rome for a postponed Holy Year celebration, struck an extraordinary balance between solemnity and celebration.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered an emotional, deeply personal homily that drew applause as he praised Francis as “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone.”

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re blesses the coffin of Pope Francis, during his funeral Mass, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Reuters)

“The Church must always be a home with doors wide open,” Re emphasized, recalling Francis’ mission to create “a poor Church for the poor.”

A Global Stage in Mourning and Tribute

Despite Francis’ modest wishes, the event drew global powerhouses: President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended alongside Prince William and dozens of European royals.

Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, was given pride of place — a poignant reminder of Francis’ complicated relationship with his homeland.

Notably, Trump and Zelenskyy met privately within the basilica, in a rare quiet moment amid the sweeping pageantry.

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other world leaders attend Pope Francis’ funeral in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025. — *President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other world leaders attend Pope Francis’ funeral* in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Reuters)

A Final Journey Through Rome’s Streets

As dawn broke, the white facade of St. Peter’s Basilica blushed pink. Mourners surged into the square, with giant screens set up for overflow crowds.

Police helicopters buzzed overhead while 2,500 police officers, 1,500 soldiers, and even a torpedo ship off Italy’s coast secured the Vatican and central Rome.

After the Mass, Francis’ coffin was placed atop the same popemobile he once used in the Philippines, beginning a 3.5-mile procession through Rome to his final resting place.

Francis’ Chosen Resting Place: A Powerful Symbol of Humility

Unlike his predecessors, Francis rejected the grand tombs beneath St. Peter’s. Instead, he will rest in St. Mary Major Basilica, near Rome’s main train station — a sanctuary with deep personal meaning for the pope.

Honoring the Poor in Death as in Life

Organized by the Vatican’s Caritas and Sant’Egidio communities, forty guests — including homeless people, migrants, prisoners, and transgender individuals — will welcome his coffin at the basilica.

Francis had often said, “The poor have a privileged place in the heart of God,” and now, they will have a privileged place at his final farewell.

A Basilica Close to Francis’ Heart

Long before he became pope, Francis maintained a strong devotion to Salus Populi Romani, the Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary housed in St. Mary Major.

He would pray before this icon before and after every papal trip abroad, seeing it as a touchstone of humility and hope.

Symbolically, the basilica also echoes his Jesuit heritage; St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, celebrated his first Mass there in 1538.

The coffin of Pope Francis is carried during the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. — The coffin of Pope Francis is carried during the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. (Reuters)

Crowds Wait for Hours to Pay Their Last Respects

Long lines wound through Rome’s streets as thousands of mourners, many carrying homemade banners and flowers, patiently waited to glimpse the coffin of the beloved pope.

Among them was Miguel Vaca from Peru, who had camped out overnight to honor Francis:

“He was charismatic, kind, deeply human. It is a powerful emotion to say goodbye.”

As preparations begin for the conclave that will elect Francis’ successor, the late pope’s imprint on the Church remains indelible — a testament to a pontiff who reimagined what it meant to lead not from a throne, but from among the people.