Some 250,000 are expected to attend the event, with many more lining the streets of Rome.
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The Irish Independent’s view: Remember Francis’s compassion as he is laid to rest today
“In his own life, Francis spoke of harbouring “a dogmatic certainty” that “God is in every person’s life”. No one was excluded. “Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, God is in this person’s life. You must try to seek God in every human life,” he pleaded.
“All those who mourn him today will hope that the vital pulse of compassion that Francis strove to stir can be sustained.”
Read today’s editorial from the Irish Independent:
People gather across Buenos Aires as funeral of Pope Francis takes place
It is just after 6.30am in Buenos Aires, but still thousands have gathered in the darkness of the early morning to watch the funeral of Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina.
There is a perhaps unexpected Irish link to Pope Francis and his childhood in Buenos Aires, as the missionary nun who cared for him in his earliest days was from Co Cavan.
The Bergoglio family, who lived in Buenos Aires, called on the religious order the Little Sisters of the Assumption for help when they were expecting their first child in December 1936.
Sr Olivia Maria, a long way from her own home near Kilnaleck in Co Cavan, arrived to care for the mother and her newborn, who would grow up to become the head of the Catholic Church more than seven decades later.
Maeve McTaggart
At least 160,000 in immediate vicinity of St Peter’s Square
Close to 50,000 mourners are in St Peter’s Square for the funeral mass of Pope Francis and another 110,000 are in the adjoining Via della Conciliazione – the road which connects the square to Castello Sant’Angello.
It’s estimated hundreds of thousands more will line the streets of Rome as Pope Francis’ coffin is brought to his final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore.
Many priests are currently distributing Communion to those attending the papal funeral as the sun shines down on St Peter’s Square.
Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 23 degrees by this afternoon in the Vatican City.
Almost 100,000 people are currently watching the funeral of Pope Francis on YouTube alone.
Tens of thousands have gathered in Rome, while many more are watching from elsewhere across the world – from London to Bangkok.
Maeve McTaggart
“War always leaves the world worse than it was before, it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone. ”
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
A banner reading “Thank you, Francis” hangs on a building in Rome as people look out of the windows ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis.
REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
Pope Francis ‘incessantly raised his voice’ in face of ‘inhumane’ wars
“Faced with the raging wars of recent years, with their inhumane horrors and destruction, Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice, imploring peace and calling for reason and honest negotiation to find possible solutions,” said Cardinal Battista Re during the homily.
“War, (Pope Francis) said, results in the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. War always leaves the world worse than it was before, it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone.
“‘Build bridges not walls,’ was a constant exaltation he repeated many times.”
Maeve McTaggart
‘He was a pope among the people’ who gave himself to the ‘marginalised’
The gospel, which is first sung through Latin before being delivered in Greek, is read from the 21st chapter of John.
During his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re thanked those who are gathered, including the heads of state, for attending as he said the enduring image of Pope Francis will be how he was seen on Easter Sunday.
“Despite his serious problems, he wanted to give us his blessing from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica,” he said.
“And then, he wanted to come down to this square to greet the large crowd which had gathered for the Easter mass.”
The faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square heard that Pope Francis “immediately” made his mark on the Catholic Church when he assumed the role, “giving himself to the marginalised”.
“He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone.”
Maeve McTaggart
American theology graduate and Vatican News journalist Kielce Gussie delivered the first reading at the papal funeral.
Speaking to CBS News earlier this week, she said she felt Pope Francis was a grandfatherly figure when she met him twice.
“I did not see him as the head of the Catholic Church, I saw him as a grandfather, so I will remember him as someone who really cared for each person that he met,” she said.
Maeve McTaggart
Mourners watch on as the body of Pope Francis is carried to St Peter’s Square
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Rome
Just hours before his death, Pope Francis delivered one of his final messages: “Peace is never made with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts.”
His funeral mass has brought together some of the most powerful politicians and world leaders. As it gets underway, it has been confirmed that US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky will meet in Rome.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian leader said the meeting is expected to take place.
Pope Francis’ coffin enters St Peter’s Square
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 26th April 2025
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell are also due to attend.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has also confirmed she will travel to Rome. The Sinn Féin vice-president has cut short a family holiday to attend.
In a statement ahead of the funeral, Mr Higgins said: “As President of Ireland, I am pleased to communicate the appreciation of all of the people of Ireland for the life, the documents and the contacts to the most vulnerable all over the world made by Pope Francis, who I was honoured to meet with on five occasions.
He was a strong spokesperson for how global poverty could be eliminated and he gave leadership in relation to the rights of migrants
“The world was struck by the generosity given by Pope Francis, right until the very last moments of his life, in terms of seeking to embrace, as he put it, all of humanity.
“Through his life and his work, Pope Francis… was a strong advocate for the fulfilling of obligations in relation to nature and the indigenous peoples who are paying the highest price for the consequences of climate change.
“He was a strong spokesperson for how global poverty could be eliminated and he gave leadership in relation to the rights of migrants.
“In attending the funeral and celebrating the life of Pope Francis, it is important to stress his work on our shared humanity and on the importance of peace, sustainability and of rights.”
This is the third papal funeral that Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy, a Dubliner who works at the Vatican, will attend.
He is the secretary for discipline at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is responsible for religious discipline in the Catholic Church.
He said Francis’s funeral will be more humble than previous ones, but it will have typical elements such as world leaders being present.
“These world leaders are going to have a unique opportunity to meet each other… and I’m sure they’re going to exchange words,” he told RTÉ radio, adding that the word “pontifex” means “bridge builder”.
The Pope’s funeral begin at 9am Irish time today.
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