VATICAN CITY (AP) — From a number of the world’s strongest leaders to these on society’s margins whom Pope Francis at all times made some extent to minister to, a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals had been anticipated on the Vatican Saturday for the funeral rites for the late pontiff.
U.S. President Donald Trump and a few 60 different heads of state and reigning sovereigns introduced their plans to journey to Rome from across the globe. The Vatican stated that “a group of the poor and the needy” can be on the steps of St. Mary Main Basilica to pay homage to the primary Jesuit and first Latin American pope earlier than his burial within the church.
The Holy See press workplace added that the poor had a particular place in Francis’ coronary heart. He had chosen for his papacy the identify of the medieval Italian saint who famously renounced his household’s wealth when he joined the church.
Already, lengthy strains of the devoted have paid their homage to Francis, who died Monday at age 88, over the three days that his physique was mendacity in state in a easy wood coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
From the start of his papacy in 2013, Francis gained over many all over the world, Catholic or not, along with his advocacy for migrants and the surroundings. His legacy was extra combined on the subjects of clergy sexual abuse and LGBTQ+ outreach, which made waves for growing inclusion however some criticized for not going far sufficient.
A nun smiles as she waits forward of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Emilio Morenatti)
Devoted, one holding a placard with the Ukrainian flag and studying Francis, pray for us, arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nuns and different pilgrims search for their seats in St. Peter’s Sq. forward of the funeral of Pope Francis, on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Markus Schreiber)
Law enforcement officials communicate in St. Peter’s Sq. forward of the funeral of Pope Francis on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Andreea Alexandru)
A devoted carrying a flag from Argentina arrives for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Gregorio Borgia)
Nuns and pilgrims make their solution to St. Peter’s Sq. forward of the funeral of Pope Francis on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Andreea Alexandru)
Devoted and Swiss Guards are backdropped by St. Peter’s Basilica forward of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Alessandra Tarantino)
Initially Revealed: April 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM PDT
