Pope Francis laid to rest

Pope Francis has been laid to rest in a solemn and religious ceremony filled with deep emotion. He was buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, outside the Vatican—an unusual decision for a Pope who was the spiritual leader of nearly 1.5 billion Catholics.

This is the first time in over 100 years that a Pope has been buried outside the Vatican. According to a Vatican statement, only close individuals were allowed to attend the private burial.

The BBC reported that more than 400,000 people attended the Pope’s funeral on Saturday (April 26). World leaders including US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus were present.

Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that at least 400,000 people gathered in Vatican City for the ceremony. Many stood along the streets to watch the Pope’s coffin being taken to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica for burial.

He said, “We estimate that the number of people in St. Peter’s Square and along the roads was no less than 400,000.”

Born in Argentina, Pope Francis passed away last week at the age of 88. Following his death, the Catholic Church began traditional rites and ceremonies to honor and say farewell to their beloved leader.