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.
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.
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Funeral of Pope Francis begins with choir singing an antiphon
As the funeral of Pope Francis begins, a choir can be heard singing an antiphon in Latin, a short verse which is traditionally sung or recited in Christian liturgical ritual.
An open Book of the Gospels was then placed on top of Pope Francis’ coffin as the service started.