“Pope Francis, now we ask you to pray for us”

by Fabio Beretta

Vatican City (Fides Agency) - “The Easter sun shines brightly” on the day when the Church and the whole world bid farewell to Pope Francis, the 265th Successor of Peter, who passed away six days ago. A death illuminated by the joy of the Resurrection, as written in the document that was placed in the coffin containing the remains of the Bishop of Rome in the last few hours: “while the light of Easter illumined the second day of the Octave, Easter Monday, the beloved Shepherd of the Church, Francis, passed from this world to the Father."

Heads of state, royalty, and diplomats from every corner of the earth are present . Among them are Presidents Trump and Zelensky, who, shortly before the funeral, despite the tight schedule imposed by the ceremony, met in the Vatican basilica to resume talks on the much-desired peace in war-torn Ukraine that Pope Francis has invoked since February 2022.

Together with world leaders, a crowd of 250,000 people filled Bernini's massive colonnades. The crowd was so big that even the entire Via della Conciliazione was not enough to contain it.

As the Pope's coffin was carried on the shoulders of pallbearers and placed in front of the altar, the tolling of St. Peter's bell announced the beginning of the ceremony.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the funeral Mass for the Roman Pontiff. In his homily, interrupted several times by applause, the Dean recalled the highlights of these twelve years of pontificate, focusing on the aspects and themes that characterized Pope Francis' ministry, beginning with evangelization, which, the Cardinal Dean remarked, ” has been the guiding principle of his pontificate, spreading, with a clear missionary vision, he spread the joy of the Gospel, which was the title of his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium. It is a joy that fills the hearts of all those who entrust themselves to God with confidence
and hope.”

Cardinal Re also said that Pope Francis “Pope Francis always placed the Gospel of mercy at the centre, repeatedly emphasising that God never tires of forgiving us. He always forgives, whatever the situation might be of the person who asks for forgiveness and returns to the right path. He called for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in order to highlight that mercy is “the heart of the Gospel.””

And if Pope Francis “used to conclude his speeches and meetings by saying, “Do not forget to pray for me”, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, at the end of his homily, concludes: “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, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.”

The bell rings again at the end of the celebration, accompanying the transfer of the coffin from the Vatican basilica to the outdoor area of Santa Marta, which has been the Pope's residence for the past twelve years. The coffin, placed on the popemobile, leaves the Vatican and, along the ancient Via Papalis, the road that the popes used to travel from the Vatican to the Lateran, passes through Via Merulana and arrives at Santa Maria Maggiore. Along the streets of the city center, 150,000 people gather to bid him farewell.

Before burial, the coffin was brought before the chapel that houses the icon of Salus Populi Romani. In a niche next to it, under the gaze of the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis will rest in peace. ( Fides Agency 26/4/2025)

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