Rome equally capital of the world for funeral Pope Franciscus. ‘It was a man I would dare to invite at home’

Clergymen from all over the world, state and government leaders and crowned heads: according to the Italian newspapers, Rome will be ‘Caput Mundi’ again on Saturday morning, the capital of the whole world. According to the Vatican’s press service, around 200,000 attend the open air celebration on the sun-drenched Sint-Pietersplein. The long avenue that leads from Rome to Vatican City, the Via della Conciliazione or ‘Reconciliation Road’, is also full of a crowd.

Among the visitors and the pilgrims there are a striking number of young people. The pope died the day after Easter, the most important religious party for Catholics, which attracts many extra people to Rome every year. But moreover, 2025 a holy year or jubilation year full of special activities. That is why this weekend are more than 120,000 Catholic youth in Rome for the jubilee of the youth. Marta de Grandis (18) and Emma Pravato (17) traveled to Rome with a large group of students from the diocese of Venice. « I am emotional and feel that I experience a piece of history live, » says Marta.

Both girlfriends are in the Catholic youth work in their parish. « We help older people and commit ourselves in orphanages, » says Marta. « Being a volunteer also gives you a good feeling. I take that message from Pope Francis. » Emma also loves the strong social side of parish effect. « Our parish feels like a small family. It’s really cool. Unfortunately, our pastor must really give his blessing about everything, » she says with a sigh. Does that symbolize the wider Catholic Church? « I fear, » says Emma. « The role of women may become a bit bigger in the future. »

Multilingualism

The multilingualism of funeral displays illustrates that this is the last farewell of the leader of the Catholic World Church. The introductory singing of the Requiem, which starts the celebration, is in Latin, then lectures and intercessions follow in English, French, Arabic, German and Portuguese. The sermon, in which he runs through the life of Pope Francis, holds the Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in his native language. He harvests a loud applause by reminding the first journey from this pope to Lampedusa. « The island that symbolizes the drama of emigration, with thousands of people who have drowned in the sea now. »

With a fixed voice and steadfast look, which in no way betrayes that he is 91 years old, Cardinal Re pronounces a political and socially moved homily that the politicians present cannot misunderstand. The pope again and again emphasized that people ‘bridges, and not have to build walls,’ says Re, in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, both in favor of a very strict migration policy.

Giuseppe Sergi (69), from the Sicilian city of Catania, calls the funeral of the Pope attending « the pinnacle for a Catholic. » Yet Francis sometimes made him a little angry, especially when he spoke about migrants. « It is correct and nice to welcome migrants, but it should not be at the expense of those who already live here, » says the retired municipal officer. « As a Sicilian, I know better than anyone what the migration pressure on our island means. Other countries can also lend a hand. »

Antonia Maria Panebianco (72), also from Catania, nods in agreement. « Totally agree! And yet I will miss him. When he was only chosen as a Pope, he addressed the believers with a simple ‘Buonasera!, Good evening!’ His predecessor, Benedictus XVI, was an intelligent theologian.

Paplician

After the long funeral peal, which lasts more than two hours, Pope Francis starts his last trip. A pausMobiel brings the simple, wooden box through the streets of Rome to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Holy Maria the superior, about six kilometers away. The funeral procession slowly drives past the imperial forums and the Colosseum, and regularly harvests applause. Visitors chant Franciscus’ name.

Unlike nearly a hundred popes for him, who were suspended in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis chose to be explicitly buried in a different papal basilica, dedicated to Mary, the mother of Christ. The Mariacultus was very important for Francis, and in the basilica that he chose as his last resting place, the Argentinian pope often started praying before and after a trip abroad. At the Santa Maria Maggiore, another hundreds of believers and visitors are waiting for the arrival of the coffin. According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, on Saturday, at least 400,000 people spread a final greeting to Francis on Saturday.

Trans-Persons

Zensky and Trump spoke to each other on Saturday in the margin of the papal funeral.

A special place at the basilica dedicated to Christ’s mother is reserved for the poor, refugees and trans-people. Those who are often pushed away in society as ‘the very last’ will be the first for once. Today they can bring the last greeting to the coffin and Francis express their ultimate honor.

While international press agencies spread that US President Donald Trump spoke the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zensky for 15 minutes before the start of the funeral, and an already iconic photo of that meeting in the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica, the speculation will start later in the day in the day. The funeral of Pope Franciscus, a man who argued for peace, wanted to build bridges and-exceptionally for a church leader-attended a G7 top consultation in southern Italy last year, starts a lot of political top consultations.

But the mourners and believers from Italy and the rest of the world have a strong feeling that the Catholic ceremony in Vatican City, with all notables and top politicians, only concerned the official and solemn part. Here, with the Santa Maria Maggiore where the Pope started to pray as an ordinary Catholic, the Argentinian – just like Jesus, did not get a man of the beautiful temples but a preacher of the street – the real farewell that his life was so strongly characterized as a socially moved pastor.

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