Pope Francis Funeral: Thousands Clap On The Street As Late Pontiff's Coffin Is Taken To Burial Site

• The funeral service of the late Pope Francis was held at St. Peter's Square in Rome on Saturday, April 26, 2025
• A huge crowd of people, including world leaders, delegations and royalties, attended the funeral service to pay their final respects to the late pope
• Thousands, in a video, loudly applauded as Pope Francis' coffin was being transported through the street to his burial site

The funeral service and burial of the late pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, was held at St. Peter's Square in Rome on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

A huge crowd of people, including world leaders, delegations and royalties, attended the funeral service to pay their final respects to the late pope and bid him farewell before his mortal remains were transported to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial.

Groups of young Catholic nuns holding rosaries and large groups of school students in Rome also lined up on the streets by the basilica for hours to witness the arrival of the late Pope Francis’ coffin.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Re, offered the homily during Pope Francis' funeral. He also reflected on the last memory of the late pontiff on Easter Sunday before his passing.

The requiem mass for Pope Francis concluded with gentle applause in St. Peter’s Square. His coffin was then carried back into St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of his burial at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Later, a ten-tonne bell at the Vatican rang in St. Peter’s Square, marking the end of Pope Francis’s funeral and honouring of his passing. The coffin was deposited in a popemobile, a specially designed motor vehicle used by the Pope during public appearances for his burial.

As the coffin was driven on the street to the burial site at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, loud applause broke out among the large group of people who had gathered to see the late pontiff's coffin for the last time in public and bid farewell.

Watch the video below:

Pope Francis' untimely passing

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 at 7:35 am on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The news of the late Pope's sad passing at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta was announced in a statement released by Cardinal Kevin Farrell of the Vatican.

Pope Francis, who was the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned.

The late Pope had battled severe health issues for the early months of 2025. He spent five weeks in admission at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome with double pneumonia after he entered the medical facility on February 14, 2025, due to bronchitis.

He was subsequently discharged from the hospital on March 3, 2025, and was expected to spend at least two months recuperating from his health struggles at his home in Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican City before his untimely passing.

Man sacked from St Peter's Basilica

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a man was sacked from St Peter's Basilica as he attempted to see the late Pope Francis' mortal remains and pay his respects.

A video showed the man screaming at security as he was escorted out of the building in the Vatican City.

The video of the man being sacked from St Peter's Basilica garnered mixed reactions from social media users.

Source: YEN.com.gh