Pope laid to rest after funeral brings together politicians, royalty and 400,000 mourners

Summary

Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica following his funeral in the Vatican
Pope Francis "touched minds and hearts" and wanted to "build bridges, not walls", said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral service
Dozens of leaders and dignitaries - including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William - joined an estimated 400,000 mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter's Square itself
Trump and Zelensky met inside St Peter's Basilica before the funeral - Zelensky says the meeting "has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results"
The Ukrainians also released a picture of Trump and Zelensky in conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron

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Key moments from Pope Francis' funeral

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey and Nathan Williams, with Sarah Rainsford and Laura Gozzi reporting from Rome

'He was a Pope among the people'published at 09:49 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty Images
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is continuing with the homily, and is now paying homage to Pope Francis' "pastoral leadership", which he says was maintained "through his resolute personality".
"He established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalised, the least among us," he says.
"He was a Pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone. He was also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church."
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivers homilypublished at 09:42 British Summer Time
We are now hearing from the dean of the College of Cardinals - Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
He is delivering the homily which you can follow here as it is read out.
The homily begins with the cardinal remembering Pope Francis and his legacy:
Quote Message
The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts."
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Trump in front row between staunch Ukraine supporterspublished at 09:39 British Summer Time
Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Image source, Getty Images
The US president is sitting with other heads of state in the front row, close to the steps of St Peter's Basilica. And intriguingly he and First Lady Melania are sitting between two staunch supporters of Ukraine.
Estonia's President Alar Karis is to Melania's left, and Finland's Alexander Stubb to Trump's right.
Because while the main focus is on the funeral service, considerable attention is focused on potential diplomatic moves on the sidelines.
As the US leader talks of being "very close" to a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, we know that Trump had a brief meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the funeral.
For 90 minutes or more, Trump is now sandwiched between two of Zelensky's closest allies.
He knows Stubb well, having played golf with him at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida only weeks ago. At the time Stubb said he told Trump he couldn't trust Russia's Putin.
If Estonia's leader does get a chance to bend Trump's ear, he would probably say the same.
In pictures: A global look at today's attendeespublished at 09:37 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni takes her seat. World leaders are seated in French alphabetical order by country, with exceptions for Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Image source, Getty Images
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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron greeted one another ahead of the funeral mass
Image source, Getty Images
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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (L) and Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda (R)
Watch: Applause for Zelensky as he appeared in St Peter's Squarepublished at 09:36 British Summer Time
We can now bring you a moment from before the service began: as Ukraine's President Zelensky appeared in St Peter's Square, applause could be heard from the crowds (there are several large screens showing proceedings in the square).
Media caption,
Applause is heard as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for the Pope's funeral
Liturgy of the word includes two Bible readingspublished at 09:27 British Summer Time
We are now hearing the liturgy of the word.
This section asks the faithful to listen and reflect on readings from the Bible.
Pope Francis' funeral mass includes a reading from the Acts of the Apostles (read by Kielce Gussie, a journalist from Vatican News) followed by a second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
In between the two readings will be a responsorial Psalm.
Thousands of mourners crowd the square to the edges - and beyondpublished at 09:26 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty Images
About 140,000 people are now gathering in St Peter's Square and the nearby streets for Pope Francis' funeral, Italian police report.
That includes 40,000 people in St Peter's Square itself, which is almost at capacity.
Zelensky met Trump before funeral beganpublished at 09:23 British Summer Time
Breaking
Image source, Getty Images
While the funeral takes place in St Peter's Square, here is some diplomatic news from the sidelines.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky met Donald Trump before the service, according to Zelensky's spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov, quoted in Ukrainian media.
Both leaders are currently in St Peter's Square for the service.
Image source, Getty Images
Ceremony starts with the entrance antiphonpublished at 09:13 British Summer Time
Pope Francis' funeral mass is starting and we are now hearing the entrance antiphon.
This is a selection of psalm verses or scripture passages that are traditionally sung or recited.
We have a translation of the Vatican's full order of service, if you'd like to follow along there.
Who is leading today's funeral service?published at 09:12 British Summer Time
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Giovanni Battista Re (file picture)
Pope Francis' funeral service this morning is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.
The 91-year-old Italian was ordained for the Diocese of Brescia in 1957. In 2001, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him as a cardinal.
He was elected as dean of the College of Cardinals in 2020, and Pope Francis extended his term in February this year.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
Pope's funeral begins - watch and follow livepublished at 09:07 British Summer Time
Pope Francis' funeral is now under way.
As a reminder, you can follow along by clicking watch live at the top of this page, or you can watch on BBC One or the BBC iPlayer.
We also have a full English version of the Vatican's order of service here.
Pope Francis' coffin is carried into the squarepublished at 09:06 British Summer Time
Breaking
Lebo Diseko
BBC World Service global religion reporter, in St Peter's Square
Image source, Reuters
Pope Francis' coffin is now being carried out from St Peter's Basilica into St Peter's Square.
Remember: today's proceedings are going to look a bit different than previous papal funerals.
For instance, Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a simple wooden casket and instead of being buried in three coffins, he'd asked to only be entombed in one.
These more humble last wishes also reflect who he was as the leader of the Catholic Church.
Throughout his tenure, he often times sided with the plight of refugees and urged compassion for people fleeing their homes.
"Sometimes foreign people are invisible," Cedric Musau Kasongo told me. He's a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo who met the Pope in 2023.
"To be in front of the Pope, to greet him, to hold his hand, for me it was a great gesture. I felt even more welcomed, seen, and heard."
Keir Starmer and wife Victoria arrive at the funeralpublished at 09:06 British Summer Time
Breaking
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now outside St Peter's Basilica and taking his seat with his wife, Victoria, joining dozens of dignitaries.
Image source, Reuters
Burst of applause as Zelenksy arrives in the squarepublished at 09:04 British Summer Time
Breaking
Image source, Reuters
There appears to be a spontaneous burst of applause as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks down the steps of St Peter's Basilica.
More world leaders and dignitaries arrivepublished at 09:02 British Summer Time
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Brazilian President Lula arrives to take his seat
Image source, Reuters
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Argentine President Javier Milei arrives with a group at St Peter's Square
Prince William bows head inside basilicapublished at 08:54 British Summer Time
Breaking
Following from our previous post on Donald Trump, we can now bring you this image of the Prince of Wales bowing his head in front of Pope Francis' coffin.
Prince William is attending the funeral on behalf of his father, King Charles.
Trump pays his respects to Pope Francis at his coffinpublished at 08:53 British Summer Time
Breaking
Donald Trump has just paid his respects to Pope Francis at his closed coffin inside St Peter's Basilica.
The US president is now heading outside to take his seat alongside other world leaders.
Media caption,
US President Trump pays respects by Pope's coffin
Funeral mass is minutes away from startingpublished at 08:51 British Summer Time
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from St Peter's Square
An announcement says the celebration is about to commence.
Bells are ringing out. Over the speakers people are being asked to refrain from waving banners and flags during the mass as a mark of respect.
A cacophony of prayers - and helicopters - heard in the squarepublished at 08:45 British Summer Time
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from St Peter's Square
Image source, EPA
A section of the gospel - the passage that tells of how Mary Magdalene and other women went to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning and found it empty, as he was resurrected - was just read out to the square.
As heads of state take their seats, Ave Maria is recited in Latin on the speakers - but is almost drowned out by the sound of police helicopters circling overhead, and the squawking of seagulls
Trump arrives at St Peter's Squarepublished at 08:38 British Summer Time
Breaking
Image source, Reuters
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have just arrived at St Peter's Square to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.