“The joy of the Gospel and mercy are Francis’s key words” – said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, in his homily during the Holy Mass. “Pope Francis always placed the Gospel of mercy at the center, repeatedly emphasizing that God does not tire of forgiving” – added the cardinal.
The Holy Mass began at 10 AM. Earlier, the coffin with Francis’s body, closed on Friday evening, was carried out of St. Peter’s Basilica. It was placed before the altar, and an open Book of Gospels was laid upon it.
Huge crowds, numerous delegations
Even before the Holy Mass itself, about 200,000 people gathered in the Square in front of the Basilica and on Via della Conciliazione. During the ceremony, tens of thousands more arrived. People slowly entered the ceremony area due to extensive security measures.
These measures were taken, among other reasons, due to the participation of many foreign delegations. Over 160 delegations arrived for Francis’s funeral, including more than 85 heads of state, crowned heads included. Among them was President of Argentina Javier Milei, who, along with his country’s delegation, occupied a place of honor as the leader of the deceased Pope’s homeland.
US President Donald Trump arrived and spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, in St. Peter’s Basilica.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda arrived, along with Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The presidents of France and Germany, and the President of the European Commission were also present.
Delegations from many Christian and non-Christian Churches and religions also arrived. The Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, was present.
Homily: “We ask you to bless from heaven”
In his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who presided over the liturgy, emphasized the characteristic features of Francis’s pontificate and personality. He said that Francis “particularly cared for people in difficult situations, dedicated himself boundlessly, especially to the last of this world, to the excluded. He was a Pope among the people, with a heart open to all. He was also a Pope who noticed new phenomena in society and what the Holy Spirit was stirring in the Church.”
He recalled Francis’s message that we are all brothers and sisters, his desire for the Church to be a home open to all and a “field hospital,” his message of Mercy and the joy of the Gospel, as well as his constant appeals for peace.
Finally, he asked Francis to intercede for the world with the Heavenly Father. “Now, dear Pope Francis, we ask you to pray for us and we ask you to bless the Church from heaven, bless Rome, bless the whole world, just as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this Basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also with all humanity, with humanity that seeks truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope” – concluded the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
After the Holy Mass, the coffin with Francis’s body was moved in front of the confession altar in St. Peter’s Basilica, and then transported to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The faithful gathered along the route – estimated at about 150,000 – warmly bid farewell to Francis. The coffin with his body was first brought into the Pauline Chapel, where Francis’s beloved icon – Salus Populi Romani – is located.
Later, a private ceremony took place for the burial of the body in a tomb situated in a niche next to the Chapel of Our Lady.
According to the Pope’s last will, the tomb is situated in the ground. A slab with the Latin inscription “Franciscus” lies on the floor, and above it, on the wall, is a copy of Francis’s pectoral cross. The tombstone is made of Ligurian stone – from the area where Francis’s grandparents came from.
Zgodnie z ostatnią wolą Papieża, grób jest usytuowany w ziemi. Na posadzce leży płyta z łacińskim napisem “Franciscus” a nad nią, na ścianie widnieje kopia jego krzyża pektoralnego Franciszka. Nagrobek wykonany jest z kamienia liguryjskiego – z terenu, z którego pochodzili dziadkowie Franciszka.
