Pope Francis funeral updates: Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000

Francis, 88, died on Monday at the Vatican.

ByKevin Shalvey and Jon Haworth
Last Updated: April 26, 2025, 11:45 AM EDT

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was buried Saturday at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.

Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 26, 2025, 6:30 AM EDT

Bells toll for Pope Francis as funeral concludes

The coffin carrying Pope Francis was carried through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica for a final time on Saturday morning as bells tolled for the pope throughout the Vatican.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Francis at the end of his funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

The Vatican is now reporting that the number of people present as Francis’ funeral nears its end is more than 250,000.
4:07
Bells toll in St. Peter's Square in honor of Pope FrancisThe Vatican is now reporting that the number of people present as Francis’ funeral nears its end is more than 250,000.
ABCNews.com

The funeral, lasting over two hours, concluded with bells ringing for the pontiff as tens of thousands gathered to mourn.

Pope Francis' coffin will now be taken to Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major where he will be laid to rest.

Apr 26, 2025, 6:22 AM EDT

Cardinal Dolan brings 'your hearts' to pope's funeral

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said in a short video that he brought "your hearts" with him to the Vatican.

"I just want you to know that I bring your sentiments, and your intentions and your hearts with me at the funeral this morning," Dolan said in the video, which he said was filmed in Vatican City just prior to Saturday's funeral.

Apr 26, 2025, 6:20 AM EDT

More than 250,000 in Vatican

The Vatican is now reporting that the number of people present as Francis’ funeral nears its end is more than 250,000.

The coffin of Pope Francis is carried at the end of the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025.
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson

Apr 26, 2025, 6:14 AM EDT

Breeze blows pages of Book of Gospels

It is one of the most poignant and iconic moments in papal funerals: the simple yet profound image of the breeze blowing the pages of the Book of the Gospels resting on top of the pope's coffin.

A page of the book of the gospels reading "In the Passion and death of the Lord" is seen on the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in the Vatican, April 26, 2025.
Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images

It is one of the most poignant and iconic moments in papal funerals: the simple yet profound image of the breeze blowing the pages of the Book of the Gospels resting on top of the pope's coffin.
0:59
Breeze blows pages of Book of Gospels on Pope Francis' coffinIt is one of the most poignant and iconic moments in papal funerals: the simple yet profound image of the breeze blowing the pages of the Book of the Gospels resting on top of the pope's coffin.
ABCNews.com

The book was opened to the reading, "In the Passion and death of the Lord."

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