World Leaders and Pilgrims Gather Under Blue Skies to Bid Farewell to Pope Francis
Under a clear blue sky, more than 400,000 mourners, including pilgrims and world leaders, gathered at the Vatican to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis. The crowds stretched along Via della Conciliazione, the broad avenue linking Rome to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the solemn funeral took place.
Among the pilgrims were Rosa Cirielli and her friend Pina Sanarico, who traveled from Taranto in southern Italy, setting out at dawn to secure a spot near a giant TV screen. “When Pope Francis was alive, he gave us hope. Now we have this huge hole,” said Cirielli. “He left us during a very ugly period for the world. He was the only one who loudly called for peace.”
More than 150 world leaders attended the ceremony, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who had often clashed with Francis over immigration policies. Before the funeral mass, Trump held a "very productive" meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a White House official. Images captured Trump and Zelenskyy seated face-to-face inside St. Peter’s Basilica, later joined by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Another meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was expected after the mass.
The powerful presence of political figures and the outpouring of emotion from the faithful underscored Pope Francis`s profound impact across borders and generations.
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