Pope Francis is laid to rest, and the entire world joins in mourning.
The Death of an Enlightened Giant
Pope Francis, whose real name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on April 21, 2025, making him one of the world’s most significant spiritual leaders. He left behind a revolutionary papacy characterized by humility, compassion, and a call for justice in a fragmented world before his death in Rome at the age of 88.
A Solemn Ceremony Fit for a Solemn Pope
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was buried in a funeral service in Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square on April 26, 2025. A week of grief came to an end with the service. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the funeral, which was attended by thousands of devotees from all over the world as well as many world leaders and dignitaries.
Heads of state, members of the royal family, religious leaders, and ambassadors from every continent were among the notable guests. The attendees included UN Secretary-General António Guterres, King Philippe of Belgium, German Chancellor Anna Müller, Indian President Droupadi Murmu, former President Donald Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden, and members from the Orthodox, Anglican, and Muslim faiths. Their attendance demonstrated the influence of Pope Francis’s legacy and the admiration he received from people of many backgrounds and religions.
Unlike his predecessors’ elaborate papal rituals, Francis himself requested a more modest celebration, which the Vatican honored by announcing a reduced funeral. Hundreds of thousands of people waited for hours in quiet, prayer, and reflection while his body lay in state within St. Peter’s Basilica.
An International Gathering of Sorrow
The diverse followers impacted by Francis’s teachings were represented by the thousands of people who gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a final farewell, including nuns in habits, pilgrims from far-off nations, children, the elderly, and groups of young people dressed in coordinated attire. The square was filled with speakers of Italian, Spanish, English, Croatian, and Mandarin, demonstrating the influence he had on people all across the world.
The line to see the pope’s body maintained an air of profound solemnity in spite of the significant police presence and logistical restrictions. Volunteers wearing lime green vests led mourners with gentle phrases like “Papa” and “uscita” while the sound of Croatian pilgrims’ prayers filled the air.
Individual Narratives in a Concurrent Situation
Shawn Hopkins, a Michigan sheriff’s officer, shared a moving story with the audience about his trip to Rome with his sister Katrina and mother Julya Hopkins. The family’s travel aligned with this momentous occasion, which was Julya’s long-held desire of seeing the Vatican. In remembrance of Deputy Sheriff Bradley J. Reckling, Shawn, who lost his colleague in the line of duty the year before, carried a medal that represented both his own sorrow and the world’s grieving.
Others, like Taiwanese woman Chelsea Yu, 27, experienced unanticipated feelings upon seeing the pope’s body. Chelsea, who just visited Nepal and reflected on death, was profoundly touched by the realization that Pope Francis was a leader who embodied human dignity, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship.
A Quick Look Inside the Basilica
Before security requested reverence, cell phones were momentarily raised for pictures within the basilica. An infant in a little suit tugged at a visitor’s belt in a fun manner, a simple but poignant reminder of hope and continuity amid the majesty.
Two Swiss Guards stood in solemn silence on either side of Pope Francis, who lay slightly slanted forward in his crimson cassock and plain casket, as he had requested. For just five seconds, mourners bowed, prayed, and said silent goodbyes in whispers. Even in death, he maintained his modesty.
A Tradition of Justice, Kindness, and Ease
Pope Francis’s focus on the environment, the underprivileged, and the disenfranchised characterized his pontificate. He extended out to Muslims, Jews, and atheists, opened the Vatican to the destitute, and always advocated for compassion rather than condemnation. Few disputed his influence, but he was not without his detractors, who saw him as either too radical or not progressive enough.
Considering the Future
For the Catholic Church, his passing not only signals the end of one era but also the start of a new one. Many people are curious about the Church’s future as the Conclave gets ready to choose his successor.
What transpired in the square outside St. Peter’s Basilica, however, may have been Francis’s parting gift: unity. His memory drew people together in a divided society; they weren’t all Catholic or pious, but they were all captivated to the idea of humanity he promoted.
The Last Goodbye
Pope Francis’s final farewell was held in a poignant and symbolic event at the Vatican on the morning of April 26, 2025. As his casket was carried from St. Peter’s Basilica and carefully placed into the crypt beneath the Basilica, where many of his predecessors are buried, church bells tolled. Flags floated at half-mast and bells tolled as the sun sank over the Vatican. The world said goodbye to a pope who walked humbly on holy ground, a shepherd of souls, and a voice for the voiceless.
Holy Father, addio.