World Goodbye to the Pope who told people to “build bridges rather than walls”

Pope Francis was buried in Rome after a funeral ceremony and a procession attended hundreds of thousands of people and many heads of state.

The first South American Pontiff died on Monday at 88, marking the end of a 12-year pontiff.

While the Italian capital woke up to the fog in the morning, teenage worshipers, nuns and priests from all denominations submitted silently on the streets leading to the Vatican.

Many of the streets around St. Peter’s Basilica were closed – both to allow the flow of visitors and for security reasons, as more than a hundred foreign dignitaries were expected to join the funeral liturgy.

More than 8,000 Italian police from different branches were in force, as well as firefighters, medics, dog leaders of units, volunteers, members of the armed forces and even greenhouse guards.

Many have been called from all sides of Italy to be in Rome today – leading to a rather joyful mix of accents from all over the country, from the Sicilians to the Milanes.

By 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) much of the square was already full.

Jessica, 22, both from Mexico and Cyril, at 20 and from the United States, had arrived at dawn to secure a place in the front row to the funeral liturgy.

“We never thought we would be so close. We were getting a little dream to be here, but it’s worth it,” Jessica said.

She is a Catholic and said that her relatives in Mexico “will never believe” when she told them she was in the Vatican for the pope’s funeral.

As the heads of the state and foreign dignitaries occupied their seats to the right of the altar, hundreds of photographers in the area of ​​the press on the roof of the column fiercely clicked their cameras, hoping to capture the honest image of US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodimi, whose last meeting in February.

But shortly afterwards, when a striking photo of the two men sitting in two chairs inside St. Peter I already met in about 15 minutes before the start of the serviceS

Later, Zelenski said the meeting “has the potential to become historical if we achieve joint results”.

No more details were shared, but some of the social media later joked that given the situation, the meeting was a “miracle”.

The photos showed that the United Kingdom Prime Minister Kyar Starmer, Trump, Zelenski and French President Emmanuel Macron also met in the Vatican.

From the bright red of the clergy’s habits to the muted gray and blue from the veils of the nuns to the hats of the rainbow, worn by worshipers, the whole morning square of St. Peter was a rebellion of colors shining in the sun.

The hymns played out of giant speakers, occasionally drowned by the sound of helicopters flying over the head as the drones and seagulls diverted over the dome of Michelangelo.

Still, the voice of 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Batista called again and clearly as he chaired the liturgy.

The structure of the service was very similar to that of any Catholic funeral mass, although the testimony was made in many different languages ​​and all the hymns were in Latin.

Outside St. Peter, a crowd that the Vatican later stated that it numbered 200,000 applauded, as large screens show that Zelenski takes its place. There were also applause when the simple wooden casket of the Pope was brought out.

The applause of the crowd noted some other noticeable moments – such as Cardinal Re, as part of his homilia, remembered the Pope’s commitment to migrants and peace.

He mentioned that the Pope’s first journey was on the Italian island of Lamudusa, the harvest of arrival in Europe for many migrants who make the dangerous journey through the Mediterranean, and recalled the table that the Pope celebrates at the US and Mexico border.

“The war, he said, leads to the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. The war always leaves the world more more than before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for all.”

The cardinal stressed that Pope Francis has repeatedly urged the world to “build bridges, not walls.”

“It was nice to hear that on a day when so many heads of state were on St. Peter’s Square, a woman named Maria told the BBC. She and her girlfriend Grace had flown from Sardinia, especially for the funeral.

“It was a message, especially for them, in my opinion, because they decide whether there would be war or peace, not us … let’s hope that something did them.”

“Otherwise, they were just here pure hypocrisy,” Grace added.

During the sacrament, a procession of white priests dressed in the square of St. Peter, wearing golden hobs filled with waffles for communion, as many of the large crowd moved forward to get the hosts.

Shortly thereafter, the Cardinal again blessed the Pope’s ark with holy water before burning incense in Thurible – a symbol of cleansing – and the bells of the Basilica, which diverged three times after the ark’s blessing was carried out.

After some brief mixing, the world leaders began to leave the basilica. Then their motorcycles came out of the Vatican.

Within an hour, it is reported that Trump is returning to the Air Force, while other leaders held various informal meetings in Rome.

Meanwhile, the Pope’s ark was transferred through Rome to a slow procession to the church of Santa Maria Magiore for funeral.

Authorities have announced that 140,000 are lined on the streets, clapping and waving, while the hearse – reconciled white Popemobile – crossed the Tiber River and walked past some of Rome’s most recognizable views: the Colosseum, Forum and National Monument of Altar Patria of Piazza Venia.

After the ark reached Santa Maria Magiore, he was taken inside and the broadcast of live was.

Pope Francis is buried by the southern part of the church, near the favorite icon of the Virgin, around 3:00 pm.

Visitors, worshipers and the clergy quickly released the square of St. Peter. Many could be seen minutes later in the numerous cafes, restaurants and pizzerias in the historic Borgo Pio neighborhood nearby.

Grace from Sardinia said the funeral made a great impression on her.

“It was wonderful to meet in a square with people who come from every corner of the world and live a shared moment. This is the Pope’s legacy,” she said.

The officials said the day had unfolded without major incidents.

“Four hundred thousand people have shared a historical and emotional moment, and thanks to the commitment of all the day, it was held in a solemn and serene way, without critical problems,” said Civil Protection Head of Fabio Siciliano.

The city of Rome and the Catholics of the world will now be preparing for the next flagship event – the conclave that will choose the next pope.

No date has been set yet, but it is believed that it can start as early as May 5 or 6, after Novemdiales – the required nine days of mourning – are over.

With 135 cardinals to be present, this will be the largest conclave in modern history and one of the most incredibleS

Over the last few days, the Cardinals who have wandered around Rome have been persecuted by journalists who are trying to get a guide to what a conclave can give.

After the funeral and the Cardinal of Tonga, Saan Pati Pati Mafia, he approached the media as he left the square of St. Peter.

After a South American Pope, is it time for Asian, he was asked.

Cardinal Mafia laughed and pointed the sky. “Only he knows,” he said.