After mourners had been criticised for taking selfies with the physique of Pope Francis earlier this week, you’d assume the world’s leaders would contemplate leaving their telephones of their pockets for the pontiff’s funeral.
Nevertheless, plenty of dignitaries could not resist pulling out their mobiles to take footage and movies of the late Pope’s humble wood casket because it was carried again in direction of St Peter’s Basilica.
As many within the entrance row – together with US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finland‘s President Alexander Stubb – burst into applause, these additional again could possibly be seen holding their units aloft.
It was a key second of the ceremony when the world’s most essential leaders had been cautious to indicate respect, nonetheless on the similar time some dignitaries pulled out their telephones and started filming.
Amongst these capturing a sneaky shot of the Pope’s coffin was Switzerland’s president, Karin Keller-Sutter, and Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa, who tweeted an image of the coffin being carried out.
Following his dying on the age of 88 on Monday, Pope Francis was at the moment bid goodbye by some 250,000 mourners, together with high international leaders and dignitaries.
These in attendance included Sir Keir Starmer and International Secretary David Lammy, in addition to Prince William for the UK.
US President Donald Trump and his spouse Melania had been in attendance, as had been nearly all of European leaders, together with Emmanual Macron, Olaf Scholz and Georgia Meloni.Â
Notably, whereas Ukrainian President Zelensky and his spouse had been current, Putin didn’t attend.
Monarchies from all around the world additionally despatched representatives, with ten reigning monarchs additionally in attendance.
Numerous dignitaries could not resist pulling out their mobiles to take footage and movies of the late Pope’s humble wood casket
Amongst these capturing a sneaky shot of the Pope’s coffin was Switzerland’s president, Karin Keller-Sutte
Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa tweeted a photograph of Pope Francis’ coffin being carried again to the Basilica after being noticed taking snaps within the crowd
Tayebwa taking a snap as Pope Francis’s coffin contained in the Basilica from the gang
A wider shot of the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Authorities taking the picture as bearers carry the non secular chief’s coffin
The pictures had been taken as pall bearers had been transporting Pope Francis’ coffin contained in the Basilica on the finish of the service
Whereas many of the dignitaries stood respectfully all through the service, some had been noticed making a faux-pas as Pope Francis’ coffin left St Paul’s Sq. and returned to the Basilica, forward of its journey to his ultimate resting place.
Attendees additional again within the seating plan had been noticed taking images and movies of the coffin whereas others stood wanting somberly on.Â
Elsewhere, Joe Biden was noticed taking selfies with a number of officers – however not whereas the service was ongoing.
One in every of these was a selfie with the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa.Â
It got here after President Trump was accused of breaking strict Vatican costume code by sporting a pin of the American flag on his left lapel.Â
Through the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re – who led the service – mentioned: ‘The ultimate picture now we have of him, which can stay etched in our reminiscence, in our eyes and our hearts is that of final Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, regardless of his critical well being issues, needed to provide us his blessings from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
‘He then got here right down to this sq. to greet from his open pope-mobile the big crowd gathered for the Easter mass.’
Cardinal Re additionally mentioned the Pope ‘incessantly raised his voice’ for peace and urged folks to ‘construct bridges not partitions’.
The Vatican mentioned greater than 250,000 folks attended the funeral.
Others who attended embody the Prince of Wales – who attended on behalf of the King, Sir Keir and his spouse Victoria, International Secretary David Lammy, Irish President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Eire.
Some friends had been seen blatantly taking photographs slightly than becoming a member of in with the solemnity of the second
Following his dying on the age of 88 on Monday, Pope Francis was at the moment bid goodbye by some 250,000 mourners, together with high international leaders and dignitaries.
US President Donald Trump and First Girl Melania Trump sit alongside leaders as they attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and First Girl of Ukraine Olena Zelenska attend the funeral of Pope Francis
Lots of of world leaders, members of worldwide monarchies and different senior officers attended the service in Rome at the moment
Through the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re – who led the service – paid tribute to Pope Francis’ campaigns for peace
Lots of of 1000’s of mourners turned out to the funeral service, cramming into the sq. and surrounding streets
The Argentine pontiff, who died on Easter Monday, aged 88, needed his grave to be inside the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, 4 miles from the Vatican, and which is devoted to the Virgin Mary
His will mentioned he needed it to be ‘within the earth’ and with only a easy tombstone carrying his title in Latin, Franciscus and a black cross for adornment
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell (left) presides over the burial ceremony of late Pope Francis
Earlier than the funeral William, facet by facet with Sir Keir, stood for a second’s silence in entrance of Pope Francis’s sealed wood and zinc coffin as an alternative earlier than the altar in St Peter’s Basilica.
It’s the first time the prince has represented the monarch at a world funeral.
William spoke briefly to US President Donald Trump and first woman Melania Trump on his manner into the service.
The seating plan was based mostly on a posh order of priority, with Argentina – the nation of the Pope’s delivery – and Italy on the entrance.
Different sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of presidency had been then seated in alphabetical order of their international locations’ names within the French language – used as a result of French is taken into account the language of diplomacy.
Cardinal Re additionally informed the gang Pope Francis was ‘a pope among the many folks’ who ‘really shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time’.
The cardinal mentioned: ‘He was a pope among the many folks, with an open coronary heart in direction of everybody.
‘He was additionally a pope attentive to the indicators of the occasions and what the Holy Spirit was awakening within the Church, along with his attribute vocabulary and language wealthy in pictures and metaphors, he all the time sought to make clear the issues of our time with the knowledge of the gospel.’
The seating plan for dignitaries was based mostly on a posh order of priority, with Argentina – the nation of the Pope’s delivery – and Italy on the entrance
Pope Francis was the primary South American pope, and in recognition of his nationality Argentine President Javier Milei (finish of entrance row) was given a entrance row seat
Prince William attended the service on behalf of King Charles and was seated subsequent to Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany
The cardinal added: ‘He had nice spontaneity and a casual manner of addressing everybody, even these removed from the Church. Wealthy in human heat and deeply delicate to at the moment’s challenges, Pope Francis really shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time.
‘He gave of himself by comforting and inspiring us with a message able to reaching folks’s hearts in a direct and speedy manner.
‘His charisma of welcome and listening mixed with a way of behaviour in line with at the moment’s sensitivities touched hearts and sought to reawaken ethical and religious sensibilities.’
Crowds on the funeral applauded because the pontiff’s coffin was introduced again into St Peter’s Basilica after the open-air mass.
It was then taken by way of police motorcade to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, the place Pope Francis will probably be buried throughout a personal ceremony.
He would be the first Pope to not be buried on the Vatican in 100 years.
The crowds, filled with younger folks, applauded because the pope’s coffin was carried out of St Peter’s Basilica by white gloved pallbearers, accompanied by greater than 200 red-robed cardinals.
Friends included Argentina’s President Javier Milei – Pope Francis was an Argentinian.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the School of Cardinals, led the service, addressing 1000’s gathered in St Peter’s Sq..
Nevertheless it was be prisoners and migrants who finally ushered the pope into the basilica the place he will probably be buried, reflecting his priorities as head of the Catholic Church.
The coffin of Pope Francis is carried out of St Paul’s Basilica and into the sq. throughout the funeral Mass
Pallbearers carry the coffin throughout the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq.
A view of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26
U.S President Donald Trump and first woman Melania Trump on the funeral Mass on Saturday
A teary Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte Macron among the many friends
Emmanuel Macron and his spouse react throughout the ceremony
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky throughout the funeral Mass
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his spouse Victoria Starmer (L) arrive on the funeralÂ
Volodymyr Zelensky (C) and his spouse Olena Zelenska (L) stand alongside different leaders
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with US President Donald Trump (R) on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican
Trump (proper) and Macron (left) shake fingers on the funeral Mass
Britain’s Prince William (L) arrives forward of the late Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony on April 26
Donald Trump (again) waves as he leaves with US First Girl Melania Trump after attending Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony, in Rome on April 26, 2025
Members of the clergy attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on April 26
Members of the clergy collect forward of the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, in Saint Peter’s Sq., on the Vatican, April 26, 2025
Lots of of 1000’s of individuals turned out in St Peter’s Sq., becoming a member of world leaders and particular friends to mourn and formally mark Francis’ passing.
Bells tolled because the final of leaders from greater than 150 international locations took their locations on Saturday.
The huge crowd was largely silent, watching proceedings on a number of massive screens across the sq..
Applause then rang out at the beginning of the ceremony as 14 white-gloved pallbearers carried the coffin, inlaid with a big cross, out of St. Peter’s Basilica and into the sq..
The pope’s casket was positioned on a carpet in entrance of the altar, with the ebook of gospels laid on high, because the Vatican choirs sang.Â
Choirs sang Latin hymns and prayers had been recited in varied languages, together with Italian, Spanish, Chinese language, Portuguese and Arabic, reflecting the worldwide attain of the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church.
Massed ranks of red-robed cardinals sat to 1 facet of the altar, dealing with rows of black-suited world leaders on the opposite facet.Â
In entrance of them had been tons of of clergymen in white vestments after which 1000’s of odd mourners.
‘I am touched by how many individuals are right here. It is lovely to see all these nationalities collectively,’ mentioned Jeremie Metais, 29, from Grenoble, France, forward of the ceremony.
‘It’s kind of just like the centre of the world at the moment.’
‘We wish to say goodbye as a result of he (was a) dwelling saint, very humble and easy,’ mentioned Mary James, a Franciscan nun, who had stayed up in a single day to ensure an excellent place.Â
‘You may really feel a whole lot of power, sure, a little bit little bit of despair as a result of we’re drained, however finally we wish to come and say ‘thanks’, because of Pope Francis for all he did for his church,’ mentioned Eduardo Valencia, visiting from Mexico.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald J. Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talking in Saint Peter’s Cathedral previous to the funeral
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks to attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis
US former President Joe Biden (C) and his spouse Jill arrive for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq.
Cardinals take their seats for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican
Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (L) officiates close to the coffin of late Pope Francis throughout the funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Sq.
The coffin bearing the physique of Pope Francis is seen on the parvis of St. Peter’s Basilica throughout his funeral service in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican on April 26
Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (L) officiates close to the coffin in St Peter’s Sq.
Pope Francis will probably be buried outdoors of the Vatican in a easy wood coffin on the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
Clergymen attend the funeral service of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq.
Prisoners and migrants will later usher the late pontiff into the basilica the place he will probably be buried, reflecting his priorities as pope
Cardinals arrive on the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on April 26
Folks attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis on the Vatican, on Saturday April 26
Some 200,000 folks attended the funeral service within the Vatican Metropolis at the moment
Tens of 1000’s of individuals are gathering in St Peter’s Sq. within the Vatican Metropolis to bid farewell to Pope Francis after his dying at 88
1000’s of individuals line the streets because the coffin is transferred to the Papal Basilica
The group broke into applause when Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke of Francis’ look after immigrants, his fixed pleas for peace, the necessity for negotiations to finish wars and the significance of the local weather.
‘Wealthy in human heat and deeply delicate to at the moment’s challenges, Pope Francis really shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time,’ Re mentioned.
The Argentine pontiff, who died on Easter Monday, needed his grave to be inside the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, 4 miles from the Vatican, and which is devoted to the Virgin Mary.
His will mentioned he needed it to be ‘within the earth’ and with only a easy tombstone carrying his title in Latin, Franciscus and a black cross for adornment.
Because the transformed Popemobile hearse wound its well past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Roman Discussion board and the Colosseum, 1000’s turned out to line the streets.
For one final time Pope Francis made his manner from the Vatican, symbolically crossing the River Tiber, as he made the 30-minute journey to the church within the Esquilino district.
In his will, Pope Francis particularly requested that his ultimate resting place be ‘within the area of interest of the facet nave between the Cappella Paolina and the Capella Sforza’.
Above his is the marble memorial plaque of Paul V, who died in 1621 and who was Pope on the time of the Gunpowder Plot.
The Cappella Paolina holds the Salus Populi Romani icon, which in keeping with custom was painted by St Luke and reveals the Virgin Mary holding the child Christ, and which was additionally delivered to the altar for his funeral yesterday.
In his autobiography Pope Francis wrote: ‘I’ve all the time had an excellent devotion to Santa Maria Maggiore, even earlier than I grew to become pope.’
He visited the church greater than 120 occasions and returned there on his manner again from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day keep, to put flowers and he was there on April 12 to hope one ultimate time.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is especially vital to Catholic devoted this yr as Pope Francis had decaled 2025 to be a Jubilee yr.
In keeping with custom those who go via the Basilica’s Porta Santa (Holy Door) on the left-hand facet of the constructing, may have ‘redemption and forgiveness.’
A few of those that travelled from the UK and Eire informed of the significance of being current in-person to have fun Francis’s life and reign as pope.
Phil Callaghan, from Manchester, mentioned he booked flights as quickly because the Pope died, describing the crowds gathered within the metropolis as ‘astounding’ and that ‘it is proven simply how a lot Pope Francis meant to folks’.
Talking in Rome, pal and fellow Mancunian Kate Wilkinson mentioned it had been ‘an unbelievable alternative to witness historical past’, describing it as ‘probably the most superb second of my life’.
Her associate Brian Casey, from Galway, mentioned it had been essential to ‘come right here to pay homage to a person that we each have enormous respect for and certainly affection for and love for’.
