Pope Francis is laid to rest and mourned around the world

By NPR Staff (NPR)

April 26, 2025 2:45 p.m.

Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88 after 12 years as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, was honored with a funeral Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square in front of the Papal Basilica in Vatican City.

The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and attended by leaders from all over the world.

We take a look at the funeral and the people mourning him throughout the world today:

The book of the gospels lays on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican. — Tiziana Fabi; Alberto Pizzoli; Dan Kitwood; Jeff Pachoud; Alberto Pizzoli; Mario Tama; Markus Schreiber; Mario Tama; Andreea Alexandru; Andrew Medichini; Gregorio Borgia; Fabio Frustaci; Christoph ReichweinThe book of the gospels lays on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican. A photograph taken from St Peter Basilica shows a general view of late Pope Francis' coffin. Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Attendees and nuns stand in the street as they wait before late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony. A Swiss guard stands with St Peter's Basilica in the background at St Peter's Square ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral. Two nuns look on as people gather during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Clergy take their seats for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. People gather during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Nuns share a laugh as people gather for the funeral of Pope Francis. Faithful rest on the ground ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The coffin of Pope Francis is carried into St Peter's Square for his funeral. Pope Francis' funeral ceremony is seen in Saint Peter's Square, in Vatican City Nuns wait in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Pope Francis is laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

A photograph taken from St Peter Basilica shows a general view of late Pope Francis' coffin. — Tiziana Fabi; Alberto Pizzoli; Dan Kitwood; Jeff Pachoud; Alberto Pizzoli; Mario Tama; Markus Schreiber; Mario Tama; Andreea Alexandru; Andrew Medichini; Gregorio Borgia; Fabio Frustaci; Christoph ReichweinThe book of the gospels lays on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican. A photograph taken from St Peter Basilica shows a general view of late Pope Francis' coffin. Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Attendees and nuns stand in the street as they wait before late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony. A Swiss guard stands with St Peter's Basilica in the background at St Peter's Square ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral. Two nuns look on as people gather during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Clergy take their seats for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. People gather during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Nuns share a laugh as people gather for the funeral of Pope Francis. Faithful rest on the ground ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The coffin of Pope Francis is carried into St Peter's Square for his funeral. Pope Francis' funeral ceremony is seen in Saint Peter's Square, in Vatican City Nuns wait in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Pope Francis is laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

World Leaders

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, center, and his wife Olena Zelenska, left, stand alongside other leaders including India's President Droupadi Murmu, second right, and Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok, right, as they attend the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony. — Mandel Ngan; Andreas Solaro; Mandel NganUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, center, and his wife Olena Zelenska, left, stand alongside other leaders including India's President Droupadi Murmu, second right, and Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok, right, as they attend the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony. World leaders and royals attend the funeral ceremony of late Pope Francis. Former President Biden speaks with attendees as he arrives ahead of the late Pope Francis' funeral.

World leaders and royals attend the funeral ceremony of late Pope Francis. — Mandel Ngan; Andreas Solaro; Mandel NganUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, center, and his wife Olena Zelenska, left, stand alongside other leaders including India's President Droupadi Murmu, second right, and Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok, right, as they attend the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony. World leaders and royals attend the funeral ceremony of late Pope Francis. Former President Biden speaks with attendees as he arrives ahead of the late Pope Francis' funeral.

Heads of State and other dignitaries stand during the funeral of Pope Francis. — Markus Schreiber; Tiziana Fabi

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive ahead of the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony — Markus Schreiber; Tiziana Fabi

Procession through Rome

The coffin of Pope Francis passes the Colosseum in Rome. — Bernat Armangue; Piero Cruciatti; Christopher Furlong/Getty Images; Alexi J. Rosenfeld; Massimo ValicchiaThe coffin of Pope Francis passes the Colosseum in Rome. People gather along the road as the coffin of late Pope Francis is transported from St Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica during the funeral ceremony. ROME, ITALY - APRIL 26: People line the streets as the coffin of Pope Francis is transported to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial on April 26, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Pope Francis died on April 21st, aged 88. Anointed in 2013, Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope. Taking the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, he was a more humble Pope than many of his predecessors and will be buried outside of the Vatican in a simple wooden coffin at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Members of the faithful gather before the funeral procession arrives at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Pope Francis died on April 21st at the age of 88. People gather along the road as the coffin of the late Pope Francis is transported from St. Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica during the funeral ceremony.

People gather along the road as the coffin of late Pope Francis is transported from St Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica during the funeral ceremony. — Bernat Armangue; Piero Cruciatti; Christopher Furlong/Getty Images; Alexi J. Rosenfeld; Massimo ValicchiaThe coffin of Pope Francis passes the Colosseum in Rome. People gather along the road as the coffin of late Pope Francis is transported from St Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica during the funeral ceremony. ROME, ITALY - APRIL 26: People line the streets as the coffin of Pope Francis is transported to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial on April 26, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Pope Francis died on April 21st, aged 88. Anointed in 2013, Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope. Taking the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, he was a more humble Pope than many of his predecessors and will be buried outside of the Vatican in a simple wooden coffin at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Members of the faithful gather before the funeral procession arrives at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Pope Francis died on April 21st at the age of 88. People gather along the road as the coffin of the late Pope Francis is transported from St. Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica during the funeral ceremony.

Final resting place

Pallbearers carry the coffin of late Pope Francis — Pallbearers carry the coffin of late Pope Francis into Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, his final resting place, during his funeral ceremony.
Piero Cruciatti

The coffin of late Pope Francis is carried by pallbearers into Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. — The coffin of late Pope Francis is carried by pallbearers into Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Stefano Costantino

World mourns

An aerial image shows Catholic believers holding candles during Pope Francis's requiem mass at the Esplanade of Tasitolu in Dili, East Timor, where he held a Mass in September last year, on April 26, 2025, as his funeral takes place in Vatican. — Yasuyoshi Chiba; Ishara S. Kodikara; Luis RobayoAn aerial image shows Catholic believers holding candles during Pope Francis's requiem mass at the Esplanade of Tasitolu in Dili, East Timor, where he held a Mass in September last year, on April 26, 2025, as his funeral takes place in Vatican. A Catholic man watches a live telecast of the funeral for the late Pope Francis taking place at St Peter's Square in the Vatican, in Colombo. A woman holds a photo of Pope Francis in front of the Buenos Aires Cathedral on April 26, 2025, before a mass to bid him farewell.

A Catholic man watches a live telecast of the funeral for the late Pope Francis taking place at St Peter's Square in the Vatican, in Colombo. — Yasuyoshi Chiba; Ishara S. Kodikara; Luis RobayoAn aerial image shows Catholic believers holding candles during Pope Francis's requiem mass at the Esplanade of Tasitolu in Dili, East Timor, where he held a Mass in September last year, on April 26, 2025, as his funeral takes place in Vatican. A Catholic man watches a live telecast of the funeral for the late Pope Francis taking place at St Peter's Square in the Vatican, in Colombo. A woman holds a photo of Pope Francis in front of the Buenos Aires Cathedral on April 26, 2025, before a mass to bid him farewell.

The Obelisk is illuminated with the image of the late Pope Francis at Plaza de la Republica square in Buenos Aires on April 25, 2025, on the eve of his burial to be held at the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, aged 88. — The Obelisk is illuminated with the image of the late Pope Francis at Plaza de la Republica square in Buenos Aires on April 25, 2025, on the eve of his burial to be held at the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, aged 88.
Juan Mabromata