World Leaders and Royals Gather to Honor Pope Francis at His Funeral

• Francis transformed the Church, faced resistance from traditionalists.
• His funeral departs from tradition, with burial outside the Vatican.
• World leaders, including those from the USA, France, and Argentina, will attend.

VATICAN CITY: Dignitaries, world leaders, and countless faithful will gather on Saturday for a funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square to honor Pope Francis’s impactful yet often controversial papacy.

Among the attendees from over 150 countries is former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had significant disagreements with Francis, particularly regarding immigration policies.

The Argentine pontiff passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, marking the beginning of a carefully orchestrated transition for the 1.4 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church, filled with solemn rituals and mourning.

Over the past three days, approximately 250,000 individuals have paid their respects, viewing his body which was displayed in an ornate casket in the grand St. Peter’s Basilica.

On Saturday, his casket will be brought out through the main entrance for the outdoor funeral, commencing at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT). Rows of international dignitaries will be situated to one side of the stone colonnade, facing hundreds of red-hatted cardinals on the opposite side.

In addition to Trump, leaders from Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, Poland, and Ukraine are expected to attend, along with the prime ministers of the UK and New Zealand, and various European royals.

The Vatican anticipates that around 250,000 mourners will gather in the expansive, cobbled plaza to participate in the ceremony, which will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a 91-year-old Italian prelate.

Francis, the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, endeavored to reform the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy, advocating for the poor and marginalized, and challenging wealthy nations to assist migrants and combat climate change.

The formal summary of his papacy, written in Latin and placed beside his body, expressed: “Francis left a magnificent legacy of humanity, holiness, and universal care.”

While he faced resistance from traditionalists aiming to maintain the Church’s secrecy, his calls for peace, unity, and the curtailing of rampant capitalism often went unanswered.

Breaking with Tradition

During his tenure, the pope frequently distanced himself from the grandeur usually associated with the papacy and will reflect this desire for simplicity in his funeral. He revised the elaborate, lengthy rites traditionally employed.

Unlike Pope John Paul II’s three-hour funeral in 2005, Saturday’s service is expected to last only 90 minutes.

Additionally, Pope Francis chose to forgo the historic practice of being buried in three interlocking coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak. Instead, he will be interred in a singular, zinc-lined wooden coffin, sealed overnight.

In an unprecedented move, he will be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside of the Vatican, opting for Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, situated about 2.5 miles from St. Peter’s, as his final resting place.

The grave will be marked simply with “Franciscus,” his name in Latin. A replica of the iron cross he wore is displayed above the marble slab.

The funeral procession will traverse the city, allowing locals to say their goodbyes.

In preparation, Italy has shut down airspace over the city and bolstered security forces, including deploying anti-aircraft missiles and patrol boats, marking one of the largest security operations since John Paul II’s funeral.

Once Francis is laid to rest, attention will shift to his potential successor.

The secretive conclave to elect a new pope is not expected to commence before May 6 and may be delayed further, allowing cardinals time for discussions to evaluate one another and the Church, which is currently grappling with financial challenges and ideological rifts.