The funeral of Pope Francis. “He chose the way to sacrifice until the last day”

Franciszek's funeral mass took place in Saint Peter's Square. About 200,000 faithful gathered there, including over a hundred delegations from around the world. As the dean of the Cardinal College of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Pope “particularly cared for people in a difficult situation, devoted himself immeasurably, especially for the last world, for the excluded”.

Before noon, a funeral mass was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square in front of the Basilica of Saint.

A straight wooden casket with the body was placed in the middle in front of the altar Pope Francis. Before she was closed on Friday evening, a spacious document called Rogito was put into a golden tuba – this is “the act of passing to the home of his father Franciszek.” It contains the biography of the Pope and a description of his service.

Cardinals and bishops, other clergy, delegations of leaders and other influential people from around the world and tens of thousands of faithful gathered around the casket in various places. The president is the head of the Polish delegation Andrzej Duda. About 200,000 people gathered in the square.

See our report on the events in the Vatican >>>

Funeral ceremonies of Pope Francis

“He chose the way to sacrifice until the last day”

The dean of the Cardinal College of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said in his homily said that “despite the weakness and suffering of the last time, Pope Francis chose the way to sacrifice until the last day of his life on earth.” – The enormity of devotion and union that we saw these days after his transition from this land to eternity testify to how rich the pontificate of Pope Francis touched the minds and hearts – he assessed.

– The last picture, which will remain in front of our eyes and in our hearts, is the one from the last Sunday, the Resurrection ceremony, when Pope Francis, despite serious health problems, wanted to give us a blessing from the balcony of the Basilica of Saint Peter. Then he appeared in the square to greet the papamobile from the numerous papamobile gathered at the Holy Mass. Easter – added the Italian priest.

He drew inspiration from Saint. Francis of Assisi

The dean of the Cardinal College said during the mass that “the decision to accept the name Franciszek immediately turned out to be a choice of a program and a style that wanted to give his pontificate, trying to draw inspiration from the Holy Spirit Francis of Assisi.”

He assessed that the Pope “kept his temperament and style of pastoral conduction, and also immediately gave the Church management clear features of his strong personality.” – He made direct contact with individual people and societies, wanting to be close to everyone – added the dean of the cardinal college. He reminded that Franciszek “was particularly concerned about people in a difficult situation, devoted himself immeasurably, especially for the last of this world, for the excluded.”

– He was a pope among people, he had a heart open to everyone. He was also a pope who saw new phenomena in society and what the Holy Spirit aroused in the Church. With his characteristic vocabulary and language rich in paintings and metaphors, the Pope has always tried to enlighten the problems of our time with the wisdom of the Gospel – said the cardinal Re.

Polish prayer and the rite of the last farewell

During the liturgy, universal prayer was read in Polish for deceased popes. Her text was presented by Krzysztof Bronk from the Polish editorial office of Vatican News, and he read: “Let us pray for the dead popes and for all those who preached the Gospel in the Church and served priesthood.

After Holy Communion, the rite of the last farewell at the papal casket took place. The words were read: “The most expensive brothers and sisters, let's entrust the felt of God's mercy, the soul of our Pope Francis, the bishop of the Catholic Church, who confirmed his brothers in faith in the resurrection.”

The funeral procession went to the basilica chosen by the Pope

Shortly after the mass from Saint Peter's Square, a funeral procession with the Pope's coffin began to the Basilica of the Larger Mother. Francis wanted to be buried in this temple and it would happen.