'The Church is us': Hundreds of thousands attend pope's funeral at the Vatican
NewsPope Francis was laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Saturday after a funeral mass at St. Peter's Square. The ceremony was attended by dozens of monarchs and heads of state, along with an immense crowd of faithful, paying tribute to a pope who was close to the people.
The people's pope, Francis, was accompanied to his grave on Saturday, April 26, by hundreds of thousands gathered in Rome to pay homage. After a mass at St. Peter's Square, the funeral procession carrying the coffin of the 266th leader of the Catholic Church exited the Vatican to cross the capital of the popes, reaching the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will now rest. According to Italian government figures, 400,000 people came to bid farewell to the late pontiff in the Italian capital.
The Popemobile used to transport the pope's body, a modified Dodge Ram pickup, moved at a slow pace for 30 minutes, applauded by the faithful and passersby lining the sidewalks and leaning out windows, many with smartphones in hand.
Such a funeral procession had not been seen in the streets of Rome since 1881. That year, the coffin of Pope Pius IX, who had died three years earlier, was attacked by Italian patriots on the Sant'Angelo Bridge; they attempted to throw it into the Tiber. As anti-clericals, they criticized the late pope for his opposition to modern ideas and the unification of Italy.
You have 88.38% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.