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Pope Francis funeral updates: Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000

Francis died on April 26 at 88 years old.

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Last updated: Saturday, April 26, 2025 12:00PM GMT
Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was remembered Saturday during a historic funeral ceremony.

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was buried Saturday, April 26 at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.

Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
WPVI logo
Apr 26, 2025, 7:34 AM

Photos show the funeral for Pope Francis

Tap on the blue circle to take a look at photos from the funeral for Pope Francis.

1 of 28
The coffin of Pope Francis arrives at St. Mary Major Basilica for his burial ceremony, in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
AP Photo/Antonietta Baldassarre
WPVI logo
Apr 26, 2025, 7:34 AM GMT

Photos show the funeral for Pope Francis

Tap on the blue circle to take a look at photos from the funeral for Pope Francis.

1 of 28
The coffin of Pope Francis arrives at St. Mary Major Basilica for his burial ceremony, in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
AP Photo/Antonietta Baldassarre
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Apr 28, 2025, 10:14 PM GMT

Former Pres. Biden, former first lady arrive for Pope Francis' funeral

Former Pres. Biden and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.

Former President Joe Biden, second from left, and his wife Jill, left, arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Former President Joe Biden, second from left, and his wife Jill, left, arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.

He is only the second Catholic president ever and a great admirer of Pope Francis, whom he met twice as sitting president: in October 2021 and June 2024.

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Apr 26, 2025, 7:18 AM GMT

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrives in Rome for papal funeral

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

His press office confirmed his arrival, joining the first lady Olena Zelenska, who preceded him.

Zelenskyy's presence was put in doubt after a recent missile attack.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers journalists' questions near a house destroyed by a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, April 25, 2025.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers journalists' questions near a house destroyed by a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, April 25, 2025.
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Apr 26, 2025, 7:11 AM GMT

Pope's coffin will be placed on the back of a popemobile used on a Philippines trip

The pope will get one more ride past the faithful on one of his beloved popemobiles.

The Vatican says for Saturday's burial procession, his coffin will be placed on the back of a popemobile used during his 2015 trip to the Philippines.

Pope Francis waves to onlookers from his popemobile as his motorcade passes by on the way to a meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 16, 2015.
Pope Francis waves to onlookers from his popemobile as his motorcade passes by on the way to a meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 16, 2015.

The vehicle has been modified so the coffin will be visible to mourners along the nearly 2.5-mile route from St. Peter's Basilica to his place of burial.

The pope reveled in being driven through crowds of faithful whether in St. Peter's Square or on one of his many foreign trips. His last was on Easter Sunday, when he looped around St. Peter's Square to the delight of the faithful who had followed his 5-week hospitalization for pneumonia and his recovery at the Vatican.

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