The funeral mass of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st, drew to a close on Saturday in St. Peter's Square. The bells of St. Peter's Basilica rang out, signalling the conclusion of the 2-hour and 10-minute service. As his coffin, transported in the white popemobile and flanked by motorbikes, made its way through Rome, thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects. The procession made its way across the River Tiber to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a sacred site the Pope had visited countless times during his 12-year papacy.
The route passed the iconic Colosseum, and when the pallbearers lifted his coffin and returned it to St. Peter's Basilica, the crowd erupted in heartfelt applause. The service concluded with the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and as the coffin was carried through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica for the last time, the faithful bid a final farewell to their beloved Pope. The funeral was attended by around 200,000 people, including 130 delegations of world leaders and monarchs, who gathered to honor the first Latin American pope. From India's President Draupadi Murmu to United States President Donald Trump, all gathered at the funeral service of Pope Francis.