Tens of thousands of mourners filled St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, celebrated as a champion of the poor and the Catholic Church’s first Latin American leader.
Many people queued overnight to secure a place at the ceremony, which was attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, who may hold a meeting on the sidelines, a senior official told AFP.
Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, led a 12-year papacy focused on steering the centuries-old Church toward greater inclusivity.
Around 250,000 people visited St Peter’s Basilica during the three days his coffin lay in state, while huge crowds gathered again from early Friday to witness his final mass.
“He was not just the pope, he was what the definition of being human is,” said Andrea Ugalde, 39, who traveled from Los Angeles to attend the funeral.
The funeral mass is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) and is expected to draw around 200,000 attendees.
Italian and Vatican authorities have organized a major security operation for the event, with over 50 heads of state listed among the guests.
ADEOLA KUNLE
