News Desk :
More than two hundred thousand people from all walks of life gathered at St Peter’s Square and its surrounding areas on Saturday morning to bid a final farewell to Pope Francis during his Requiem Mass.
From the early hours, thousands of mourners assembled in St Peter’s Square to pay tribute to the beloved pontiff, whose leadership left a profound impact on millions around the globe.
Several dozen world leaders, senior Catholic officials, and dignitaries attended the funeral ceremony, underscoring Pope Francis’s global influence, which transcended religious boundaries.
Among the notable figures present was Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, who travelled to Vatican City to pay his final respects.
US President Donald Trump, former US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were also among the world leaders who journeyed to the Vatican to honour the late Pope.
According to Vatican officials, the funeral was expected to draw an estimated 250,000 people, including clergy, heads of state, and members of the public who admired Pope Francis’s steadfast commitment to compassion, humility, and social justice.
The ceremony commenced with a solemn procession inside the historic St Peter’s Basilica, accompanied by choral hymns and the tolling of bells.
Draped in white and gold, the Basilica stood as a symbol of mourning and hope, as the Catholic Church prepared to lay its leader to rest.
Throughout the service, tributes were paid to Pope Francis’s lifelong dedication to peace, interfaith dialogue, and service to the poor.
Upon his arrival at St Peter’s Basilica, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus was warmly welcomed by Vatican officials. Speaking to the media, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, confirmed that Professor Yunus had arrived in Rome on Friday after attending the Earth Summit in Doha, Qatar.
“The Chief Adviser considered it a personal and national duty to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, a figure who inspired millions with his message of unity and hope,” Majumder said.
The late Pope was known to be a strong admirer of Professor Muhammad Yunus and his lifelong work for marginalised communities around the world. He also shared Yunus’s vision of a ‘Three Zero World’ – a future with zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus visited Bangladesh House in Rome and signed the visitors’ book, according to Majumder.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013 and was widely celebrated for his progressive stances on issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and refugee rights.
His papacy marked a new era of openness and humility within the Vatican, and his efforts to bridge gaps between faiths and cultures earned him admiration far beyond the Catholic community.
Throughout the funeral Mass, heartfelt prayers and readings were offered, and moments of reflection were observed to honour Pope Francis’s remarkable life and leadership.
The solemn and moving celebration was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, joined by around 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and members of consecrated religious orders.
In his homily, the Dean of the College of Cardinals reflected on the many highlights of Pope Francis’s remarkable and intense twelve years of Petrine ministry, marked by his closeness to the people and the spontaneity of his gestures until the very end – but most of all by his deep love for a Church he wished to keep open to all.
Referring to the Gospel passage where Christ entrusts Peter with the care of His flock, Cardinal Re noted, “Despite his frailty and suffering in his final days, Pope Francis remained faithful to the path of selfless service, following in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, until the very end of his earthly life.”
As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis – a humble champion of the marginalised and the voiceless – the Vatican has announced that preparations for the Conclave to elect the next Pope will soon commence.
