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Over 2.50 lakh mourners gather at Vatican to bid farewell to Pope Francis

Pope Francis. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

More than 250,000 people gathered at the Vatican today to attend a “simplified” funeral service for Pope Francis, remembering him for his kindness, humility, and deep connection with ordinary people.

The funeral, held at St. Peter’s Square, lasted about two hours and was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who praised Francis for leading the Church “with an open heart toward everyone.” After the service, Pope Francis was entombed at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

The ceremony was attended by over 100 delegations from around the world, including world leaders and monarchs. The funeral came just six days after Pope Francis made his final public appearance during Easter celebrations.

In a major diplomatic moment before the funeral, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The two leaders discussed efforts to reach a deal to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

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