
Mourners for Pope told to ‘build bridges, not walls' at funeral celebrating migrants
Mourners at Pope Francis's funeral were told to 'build bridges, not walls' in a service that celebrated the former pontiff's work advocating for migrant rights.
'His gestures and exhortations in favour of refugees and displaced persons are countless. His insistence on working on behalf of the poor was constant,' said Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, in a tribute to Francis on the steps of St Peter's Basilica.
'Build bridges, not walls, was an exhortation he repeated many times.'
The phrase has been interpreted as an oblique criticism of Donald Trump's efforts to construct a wall along the Mexican border during his first presidency. Pope Francis was openly critical of the US president's policy on migrants on a number of occasions.
As Cardinal Battista Re repeated the late pontiff's words, Mr Trump was sitting in the front row of the ranks of world leaders.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Emmanuel Macron, his French counterpart, were also in the front row. Prince William and Sir Keir Starmer were seated further back.
The funeral ceremony was attended by at least 200,000 people and watched by millions around the globe.
From scarlet-robed cardinals and helmeted Swiss Guards in their distinctive Renaissance uniforms to incense and soaring choral music, the two-hour service featured all the considerable pomp and ceremony the Vatican can muster – and which the Argentinian pontiff often eschewed during his 12-year papacy in favour of more humble gestures.
Francis, who died from a stroke at the age of 88 on Monday, was described as 'a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone'.
His funeral took place in front of the basilica, on a broad flight of steps overlooking St Peter's Square.
It was just six days ago that Pope Francis delivered a blessing from the balcony of the basilica and was then driven around the piazza in his white Popemobile, looking wan and tired, but waving to the crowds.
It was his last public appearance before his death early on Monday morning in his residence inside the Vatican.
'Path of self-giving until the end'
'The final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory, is that of last Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite his serious health problems, wanted to give us his blessing from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica,' said the 91-year-old Cardinal Battista Re.
'He then came down to this square to greet the large crowd gathered for the Easter Mass while riding in the open-top Popemobile. Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life.'
Pope Francis was hailed for his outreach towards ordinary people – in Cardinal Battista Re's words, 'the marginalised, the least among us'.
The vast crowd was reminded that the first of the Pope's 47 apostolic journeys was to Lampedusa, the tiny Italian island south of Sicily where hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees have arrived in the last decade after crossing the Mediterranean from Africa.
'The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open. He often used the image of the Church as a 'field hospital' after a battle in which many were wounded,' the cardinal continued.
At the start of the service, the Pope's simple wooden coffin was carried out of the basilica, where it had lain in state since Wednesday, by 14 pallbearers wearing white gloves.
During those three days of lying in state, an estimated quarter of a million people endured long queues to pay their respects to the Catholic Church's first pope from the Americas and its first Jesuit pope.
In brilliant sunshine, the coffin was laid to rest on a platform overlooking St Peter's Square, which was thronged with mourners.
'In this majestic St Peter's Square, where Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist so many times and presided over great gatherings over the past twelve years, we are gathered with sad hearts in prayer around his mortal remains,' said Cardinal Battista Re.
'The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts.'
Conclave to begin within days
On the opposite side of the coffin to the foreign dignitaries was a phalanx of cardinals, archbishops, bishops and patriarchs, resplendent in their robes and mitres.
Among them is the next pope – he just does not know it yet. That will only be known at the culmination of the conclave, the secretive and arcane election held inside the Sistine Chapel, which will choose a successor to Francis with a series of ballots.
Gathering to make the momentous decision some time after May 5 will be 133 cardinal electors – those of the Church's cardinals who are eligible to participate because they are under the age of 80.
The world will only learn that a new pope has been chosen when white smoke starts to billow from a chimney installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
Soon after there will be the announcement of 'habemus papam' – Latin for 'we have a pope'. The new pope will then appear on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Courier
an hour ago
- The Courier
Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim
The brother of a nine-year-old boy who died while trying to escape a Fife residential school has accused the UK Government of a cover-up. The youngster was knocked down and killed as police chased him along the M90 in April 1972. It was the 13th time the boy had run away from Corsbie Hall, in Thornton, amid claims of horrific abuse. A Fife MP later claimed the school could be part of 'a major education scandal'. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Gordon Campbell rejected calls for an inquiry. The family of the youngster who died told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry they were astonished at Lord Campbell of Croy's reaction. They claim documents suggest the secretary of state and George Taylor-Bryant, Corsbie Hall's headteacher, were friends. Francis, the boy's brother, said: 'They've airbrushed everything out of existence and it will come back to haunt them. 'My reaction is it's a cover-up.' Corsbie Hall was located in the old Thornton Fever Hospital, near Glenrothes, from 1970 to 1972. The inquiry heard children were regularly beaten, starved and forced to take cold showers at the school for 'mentally and socially disturbed pupils'. And Margaret Thatcher, education secretary at the time, stopped English youngsters from attending. The nine-year-old boy who died cannot be named due to legal restrictions. However, the inquiry heard he was removed from his Stirling home against his family's wishes because was dyslexic. Francis and sister Sharon, both pseudonyms, said their brother complained of being locked in a cupboard in just his pants almost every night. He spoke of being hit with sticks, refused food and forced to scrub floors and carry rocks. Then, in a letter home, the youngster told how he had run away 12 times but promised not to do it again. However, Sharon said: 'He ran away one more time and that's when he was killed.' The youngster's death had a devastating impact on his family and many years later they started looking for answers. They discovered Parliamentary records which show Fife Labour MP Willie Hamilton pushed several times for an official inquiry into Corsbie Hall. He said the situation was 'extremely unsatisfactory'. However, a letter from the secretary of state described their brother running away as 'no more than a boyish escapade'. And Lord Campbell, who died in 2005 aged 83, said: 'No blame can be attached to the school.' He later accused Mr Hamilton of 'being a little hard on the school', adding: 'I don't think an inquiry will serve any useful purpose.' The records show Corsbie Hall headteacher Mr Taylor-Bryant had no teaching or childcare qualifications. They also revealed one of the teachers had previously been charged with sexual offences against children.


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Two Israeli ministers sanctioned by UK for ‘inciting extremist violence'
The UK is taking the action to ramp up pressure on Israel alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Mr Lammy said the two Israeli ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights'. In a joint statement with foreign ministers from the four other countries who have announced sanctions, the Foreign Secretary said the two senior Israelis had also incited 'serious abuses of Palestinian human rights'. The statement added: 'These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account.' Downing Street said the two ministers had been sanctioned in their 'personal capacities'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the two Israeli ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months' (Carlos Jasso/PA) Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir both belong to right-wing parties which help to prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government. Both have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza. Mr Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory. Asked if the Israeli government's actions in the Palestinian territories amounted to ethnic cleansing, Mr Lammy told reporters at the Foreign Office: 'I was clear to the House of Commons back in September that we did believe that there was a clear risk of a breach of international humanitarian law, and that's why we made a decision to suspend arms (sales). 'Today we are making a decision also to stand against those who encourage abuses of human rights, also to stand against those who encourage violence against Palestinian people.' The Foreign Secretary did not directly answer when asked why similar action had not been taken against Mr Netanyahu, and called on the Israeli government to 'disavow and condemn' the language used by the two ministers. Asked whether the UK would encourage Mr Netanyahu to sack the ministers, Mr Lammy said: 'The Israeli government will make their own determination.' But from the UK's perspective, he said: 'We have to be clear that we act when we see these egregious individuals encouraging – encouraging – abuses of human rights in this way.' A No 10 spokesman said the sanctions applied 'in their personal capacities, not their ministries and departments'. 'Ben-Gvir and Smotrich do not speak for all Israeli people … and have a long history of dangerous extremist and inflammatory views. 'As the Israeli ambassador to the UK has said in recent interviews, their statements in their ministerial capacities do not even represent government policy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote a joint statement with the French and Canadian leaders last month warning that Israel's leaders risked 'breaching International Humanitarian Law' (Jordan Pettitt/PA) 'Their agenda and actions undermine the interests of Israeli people, including security, many Israelis see this.' Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said it was 'outrageous' that the UK had sanctioned the two ministers. He also said he had spoken with Mr Netanyahu and that an Israeli response would be decided at a 'special government meeting early next week'. Following the sanctions, Mr Ben-Gvir said: 'While the European colonial countries fantasise that we Jews are still their subjects, the streets of their famous cities are being taken over by radical Islam. 'But their campaign of appeasement for the Hamas terrorists will not save them. When they finally wake up, it will be too late.' The UK and its allies have increased pressure on Israel in recent months amid ongoing aid shortages in Gaza, as well as suggestions it could launch a new large-scale offensive into the territory. Reports suggest only scarce amounts of aid are making it into the hands of Gazans, amid a new aid initiative backed by the US and Israel, which has replaced the previous UN-run programme. The slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation among the territory's population. In May, Mr Lammy paused negotiations towards a UK-Israel trade deal as the Government sought to pressure Israel to abandon its planned offensive into Gaza. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney also wrote a joint statement last month warning that Israel's leaders risked 'breaching International Humanitarian Law', and calling for more aid to be allowed into Gaza. Lord David Cameron said previously that he had considered sanctioning both Israeli ministers in his final days as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak's government (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Netanyahu responded by claiming the three leaders were on the 'wrong side' of history. In September last year, the Government halted 30 out of around 350 arms sales licences to Israel, for fear they may be used for war crimes. Ministers insist that this means F-35 fighter jets used by Israel no longer receive replacement parts from the UK, and no British-made bombs or ammunition are used in Gaza. Lord David Cameron has previously said he considered sanctioning both Israeli ministers in his final days as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.


Fashion United
an hour ago
- Fashion United
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The French Senate is due to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate the fast fashion industry, by sanctioning companies and banning advertisements. The bill is targeted at Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which has a reputation for selling lower quality clothes at a very low price. Easy to order and replace, fast fashion items are exported to France on a large scale, causing pollution and saturating markets. Adopted by the lower house National Assembly in March 2024, the bill will be voted on by the Senate later on Tuesday and is expected to pass, with backing from the government and widespread support in the chamber. The vote is not the final legislative hurdle: a joint committee of senators and lower house deputies is expected to meet from September to produce a joint text, prior to the final adoption of the law. The text plans to "reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry", said Anne-Cecile Violland, the centre-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion is a growing market in France and between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products grew from 2.3 billion euros to 3.2 billion euros. Around 48 clothing items per person are released into the French market each year, and 35 are thrown away every second in the country, according to the state environmental agency Ademe. Fast fashion poses a "triple threat", said the minister for ecological transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses," she said. Slamming an "invasion" of products that "do not last", the minister expressed hope it would help change things in Europe. Once adopted in France, the European Commission will be notified to ensure it complies with European law according to Pannier-Runacher. Targeting fast fashion The Senate, dominated by the right, modified the bill to target "ultra" fast fashion companies, such as Asian websites Shein ou Temu. The Senate's amendments plan to leave out French and European brands that may be affected by the bill, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. The fashion giants will still be obliged to notify their customers about the environmental impact of their products, according to the new bill. "I have no intention of making French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality pay a single euro," said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication". This "eco-score" will affect all fast fashion companies, Pannier-Runacher said. Those with the lowest scores will be taxed by the government up to 5 euros per product in 2025 and up to 10 euros by 2030. This tax cannot go beyond 50 percent of the price of the original product. Advertisement ban The bill would impose sanctions on influencers who promote such products and ban fast fashion advertisements. The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed with a "collective effort", and not by targeting "a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. According to Ruffat, the law will add "a tax of 10 euros per sold item of clothing by 2030" and "impact the purchasing power" of French people. Environmental organisations are also worried that the law may be misinterpreted. Debates may amount to an interesting framework which still lacks substance, according to Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognised the bill as "a first step" and hoped for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations".(AFP)