In Pics: Thousands line streets as Pope Francis laid to rest in St Peter's Basilica
Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the streets of Rome, as Pope Francis was laid to rest in St Peter's Basilica.
The pontiff passed away on Easter Monday (April 21), with domestic and foreign leaders attending the funeral of His Holiness — including President Michael D Higgins, US President Donald Trump, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Other leaders included Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was applauded upon entering the square.
The 88-year-old has been hailed for his leadership of the Church, proving popular among young people and known for his outreach to those most in need in society. Pic: ETTORE FERRARI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Crowds had gathered in the nearby streets before 5am, with nuns, priests and lay people alike making their way towards St Peter's Square. Pic: RICCARDO ANTIMIANI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A tight security presence saw roads in the vicinity closed as Italian police managed the huge numbers keen to get as close as they could to the square. US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were in attendance at the funeral. Pic:Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, which ran overnight from Wednesday due to high demand. The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter's Basilica, before the coffin was closed in private on Friday evening. Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, which ran overnight from Wednesday due to high demand. Pic: James Veysey/Shutterstock
A seating order published on the eve of the funeral showed Francis's birth country of Argentina, then Italy, take precedence of position near the altar. Thereafter, leaders are seated 'in alphabetical order' in French – considered the language of diplomacy. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrives at Pope Francis' funeral. Pic: James Veysey/Shutterstock
Following the open-air funeral in the square, Francis's remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions. During the journey, crowds will have their chance to catch a glimpse of a pontiff who proved popular with many during his 12-year papacy. Pic: FABIO FRUSTACI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Vatican said a group of 'poor and needy' people will be present on the steps leading to the basilica to pay their last respects before the interment of the coffin, in a nod to Francis's particular care for the downtrodden. Pic: James Veysey/Shutterstock
While Saturday is the first of nine official days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin soon after the funeral.
The Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis's successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5, with UK theological expert Professor Anna Reynolds saying she thinks it is 'totally unpredictable' at this point as to who the next pope might be.
'That's partly because the process is genuinely both secret, so it happens in private, but also because the make-up of this College of Cardinals is very different from anyone that's been here to elect a pope before,' she explained. Pic: Tom Nicholson/Shutterstock
Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell – the camerlengo or senior Vatican official – has been responsible for carrying out the administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over.
He had the role of announcing the Pope's death on Easter Monday, co-ordinating meetings with the cardinals ahead of conclave and ensuring the Sistine Chapel is ready to accommodate them when that process begins in the coming weeks.
The sign of a new pope having been elected will be the emergence of white smoke from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel while, soon after, an announcement in Latin of 'Habemus Papam' – meaning 'we have a pope' – is made alongside the chosen pontiff's appearance on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
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New pictures from the Fars news agency also show smoke rising in Tabriz, northern Iran, after an earlier strike was reported there this morning.
