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A guide to the funeral of Pope Francis

Crowds queue to pay their respects at the Vatican
Crowds queue to pay their respects at the Vatican

The funeral of Pope Francis, who died this week at the age of 88, has taken place in St Peter's Square in Rome.


Who attended?

More than 200,000 people were expected to attend the ceremony in the vast square in front of St Peter's Basilica.

Around 50 heads of state attended, including US President Donald Trump.

Leaders from Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, Brazil, EU institutions and Francis's home nation of Argentina also attended.


The Pope's casket

Pope Francis asked to be buried in a simple coffin

Yesterday evening, at the end of his lying-in-state in St Peter's Basilica, Francis's coffin was sealed in a private ceremony led by eight Catholic cardinals.

The Pope's face was covered with a white silk veil and his body sprinkled with holy water.

Papal items such as coins and medals that were minted during his pontificate were placed into the casket.

A special deed listing the key points of his 12-year papacy was also placed in the casket.

Francis asked to be buried in a simple zinc-lined wooden coffin, unlike his predecessors who were buried in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak.


The funeral Mass

This morning, the Pope's coffin was taken out of the basilica and into the public square for the funeral.

The funeral Mass started at 9am Irish time with a choir singing introductory rites in Latin, and the ceremony lasted about 90 minutes.

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the Homily and led the mass, which was con-celebrated by 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests con-celebrating in the square.

The full order of service for the funeral was released by the Vatican in advance.

In chronological order:

-- Reading of liturgical texts

-- A homily by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re

-- A universal prayer in several languages

-- The consecration of the bread and wine

-- Participants exchanging a sign of peace or handshake

-- The Eucharist

-- A moment of silence

-- The sprinkling of holy water on the coffin.


The final words

One prayer at the mass included petitions to God for all people and nations "to persevere in seeking the path of peace".

In the 'Final Commendation and Farewell', Cardinal Re commended the Pope's soul to God and asked for consolation for the 1.4 billion member Roman Catholic Church.

Near the end of the Mass, Cardinal Re said in Latin: "O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our Bishops, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy forever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth."

Cardinal Re then sprinkled the coffin with holy water and incense.

At the end of the mass, the choir sang in Latin: "May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem."


The final journey

Francis was buried according to his wishes in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major), to which he had a special devotion.

The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903.

The funeral cortège travelled to the basilica from St. Peter's at walking pace. Crowds gathered along the route, which is about 5.5 km long, and passed by many of Rome's famed monuments, including the Colosseum.

Visitors to the tomb will be allowed shortly after the private burial in the basilica

A group of people were present on the steps leading to Mary Major to pay their final respects to Francis, reflecting his devotion to serving the poor and oppressed during his reign.

The burial was a private service, but visitors to the tomb were allowed shortly afterwards.

The tomb is inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus.