Under a hot spring sun, thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday to honor Pope Francis, who passed away Monday at age 88. By his wishes, his funeral rites are marked by simplicity, with his plain wooden coffin placed directly on the main altar of the basilica, watched over by solemn Swiss Guards.
On Wednesday, thousands of mourners from across the globe gathered in Vatican City to honor Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church passed away at his home in Casa Santa Marta mere days after his last public appearance at the Easter Sunday mass.
By Wednesday night, over 20,000 individuals had lined up outside St. Peter’s Basilica, braving lengthy waits beneath the spring sun. Some carried umbrellas, while others brought food, ready to wait for hours to bid farewell. “We’re willing to wait for as long as necessary,” said Abigail, a mourner from California. “I am honored to be here.”
Following Pope Francis’s humble approach and the revised papal funeral guidelines established under his leadership last year, his simple wooden coffin was positioned directly on the altar rather than being raised on a platform. The late pontiff, adorned in liturgical vestments and clutching a rosary, rests in an open casket draped in red cloth under the vigilant gaze of Swiss Guards.
Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, who participated in the procession, characterized the service as profoundly touching: “From the simple prayers to the incense, it was akin to a [funeral] ritual that any baptized individual would experience.”
The funeral Mass is set for Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square, with attendance anticipated from various world leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William. After the Mass, Pope Francis will be laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, marking a departure from longstanding Vatican burial customs.
As the bells of St. Peter’s tolled and Latin psalms resonated throughout the square, the emotional weight of the moment was unmistakable. The funeral serves as a poignant farewell to a pope, a leader distinguished by his humility, commitment to reform, and profound compassion for the most vulnerable and marginalized.
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