Pope Francis’s Funeral and Burial: A Humble Farewell with a Powerful Message

Pope Francis’s Funeral and Burial: A Humble Farewell with a Powerful Message

On April 26, 2025, the world gathered to bid farewell to Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His funeral, held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, and his subsequent burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, were marked by a simplicity that reflected his lifelong humility, yet carried the weight of centuries-old Catholic tradition. The homily delivered by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during the funeral Mass captured Francis’s legacy as a “pope among the people,” emphasizing his mercy, advocacy for the marginalized, and calls for peace. This blog post delves into the details of the funeral and burial, the words of the homily, and what this moment reveals about Francis’s enduring impact.

The Funeral: A Simplified Yet Grand Ceremony

The funeral Mass for Pope Francis began at 10:00 AM local time on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Over 250,000 mourners filled the square, joined by delegations from 164 countries, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. Notable attendees included U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prince William, and Argentina’s President Javier Milei. The diverse crowd, ranging from world leaders to ordinary Catholics, reflected Francis’s global reach and his mantra of a Church that welcomes “everyone, everyone, everyone.”

In line with Francis’s wishes, the ceremony was simplified compared to past papal funerals. He had approved new funeral rites in 2024, opting for a single zinc-lined wooden coffin instead of the traditional three nested coffins of cypress, lead, and oak. His body, dressed in a white cassock, red chasuble, and white damask miter, was placed on a simple platform in front of the altar, not elevated on a bier as in previous papal funerals. The Sistine Chapel Choir sang Latin hymns and Gregorian chants, adding a solemn yet hopeful tone to the two-and-a-half-hour service. Readings included Acts 10:34-43, Philippians 3:20-4:1, and John 21:15-19—the same passages used at Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005—affirming themes of forgiveness, hope, and Christ’s call to shepherd His flock.

The Homily: A Tribute to Mercy and Fraternity

Cardinal Re’s homily, delivered in Italian, was a heartfelt reflection on Pope Francis’s life and ministry, emphasizing his role as a pastor who embodied the Gospel of mercy. “He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” Re declared, capturing Francis’s approachable and inclusive spirit. The cardinal highlighted Francis’s choice of name, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, as a sign of his pastoral plan: to focus on the poor, peace, and creation. Re noted that despite his frailty in his final years—marked by chronic lung issues, a 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia in early 2025, and his eventual death from a stroke—Francis “chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life.”

The homily drew spontaneous applause from the crowd when Re recounted Francis’s advocacy for migrants. He cited Francis’s first papal trip to Lampedusa in 2013, where he prayed for those lost at sea, calling the island a symbol of “the tragedy of emigration, with thousands of people drowning.” Re also mentioned Francis’s visits to Lesbos, where he brought 12 Syrian refugees back to the Vatican, and his Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2016, underscoring his call to “build bridges, not walls.” This phrase, a direct critique of divisive policies, resonated deeply, especially with leaders like President Trump in attendance, whose immigration policies Francis had often challenged.

Re emphasized two key themes of Francis’s papacy: mercy and fraternity. “Pope Francis always placed the Gospel of mercy at the center, repeatedly emphasizing that God never tires of forgiving us,” he said, recalling the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti was highlighted as a call for global fraternity, rooted in the belief that “we are all children of the same Father who is in heaven.” Re also praised Francis’s interfaith efforts, such as the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity signed in the UAE, and his relentless calls for peace, noting that “faced with the raging wars of recent years… Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice, imploring peace and calling for reason and honest negotiation.”

The homily concluded with a prayerful request: “Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God.” This final note of hope reflected the “hopeful energy” observed by CNN’s Christopher Lamb, despite the somber occasion.

The Burial: A Journey to Santa Maria Maggiore

After the funeral Mass, Pope Francis’s coffin was loaded into the popemobile for a slow procession through Rome to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his chosen resting place. The 5.5-kilometer route passed iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, with thousands lining the streets, chanting “great” and holding their hands aloft in tribute. This journey allowed Romans to bid farewell to their bishop, who often visited the basilica to pray before the Salus Populi Romani icon of the Virgin Mary after his 47 international trips and even after his recent hospital stays.

Francis’s burial at Santa Maria Maggiore broke with tradition—he was the first pope since Leo XIII in 1903 to be buried outside the Vatican. His devotion to the basilica, a fifth-century church dedicated to Mary, stemmed from its significance to the poor and his personal piety. The private burial ceremony, presided over by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, followed the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis. About 40 members of marginalized communities—prisoners, migrants, homeless people, and survivors of sex trafficking—were present to pay their final respects, a fitting tribute to Francis’s lifelong commitment to the “last ones.”

The coffin was sprinkled with holy water and placed in a simple marble tomb in a niche between the Pauline and Sforza Chapels, inscribed with just one word: “Franciscus,” as per his wishes. The ceremony concluded around 2:00 PM with the Regina Cæli prayer, after which the notary of the Liberian Chapter read and signed the official burial act, witnessed by senior cardinals and Francis’s family members. The tomb was opened to visitors shortly after, allowing the faithful to continue their pilgrimage.

A Critical Reflection: What the Funeral Reveals

Pope Francis’s funeral and burial were a study in contrasts—simplified rites juxtaposed with the grandeur of a global event attended by over 250,000 people. The homily’s focus on mercy, fraternity, and peace encapsulated his papacy, but it also subtly challenged the world leaders present to continue his work. The applause for Francis’s migrant advocacy, especially in the presence of leaders with opposing views, suggests a tension between his vision and global realities. It’s worth questioning whether his calls for fraternity and peace will be heeded, or if they’ll be overshadowed by political divisions, as seen in the high-profile meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy during the funeral, dubbed the “Pope’s miracle” by some for its focus on peace talks.

The choice of Santa Maria Maggiore as his burial site, while deeply personal, also raises questions about the Church’s future direction. Francis’s emphasis on simplicity and the marginalized could be seen as a final message to his successor and the College of Cardinals, who will convene in mid-May for the conclave. Will they choose a pope who continues his reforms, or one who reverts to a more traditionalist stance? The presence of marginalized groups at his burial underscores his legacy, but it also highlights the systemic challenges—poverty, migration, war—that the Church must address in his absence.

A Lasting Legacy

Pope Francis’s funeral and burial were a fitting farewell to a pontiff who redefined the papacy with his humility and compassion. Cardinal Re’s homily painted a vivid picture of a man who lived the Gospel of mercy, reached out to the margins, and never stopped advocating for peace. As the Church enters the nine-day mourning period of Novemdiales and prepares for the conclave, Francis’s legacy as the “people’s pope” endures. His final resting place, marked simply with “Franciscus,” invites us to remember not just the man, but the mission he championed: a Church and a world that embraces all with love and mercy.

What did Pope Francis’s funeral mean to you? How do you hope his legacy will shape the future of the Church? Share your thoughts in the comments below.