Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held “productive” talks within the Vatican, shortly earlier than the historic funeral of Pope Francis performed out in entrance of round 200,000 mourners
Pictured face-to-face for an apparently spontaneous assembly in St Peter’s Basilica, the pair held “productive discussions”, a White Home official mentioned, earlier than being joined by British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Quickly after the assembly, the solemn funeral introduced closure to a 12-year papacy marked by humility, simplicity, and the championing of the world’s poorest.
Main the service, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re echoed certainly one of Francis’ strongest criticisms of Mr Trump, because the US president watched on alongside main world leaders.
The Cardinal made a name to “construct bridges, not partitions”, in a speech which known as for compassion in the direction of migrants, an finish to wars, and motion on world local weather change – Francis’ favorite political themes.
Hundreds now hope to catch a brief glimpse of Francis’ picket coffin because it passes to its last burial place within the Basilica of St Mary Main.
The 88-year-old Pontiff died on Monday from a stroke, earlier than a number of days of mourning for the Argentinian adopted.
Pope’s coffin arrives at St Mary Main
The Pope’s coffin has arrived at St Mary Main’s basilica.
He might be buried in personal in a easy underground tomb within the church.
A “group of poor and needy folks” might be current on the steps resulting in Saint Mary Main to pay their final respects to Francis earlier than he’s entombed, the Holy See mentioned on Thursday.
Athena Stavrou26 April 2025 11:56
Pictured: Crowds look on as Pope’s coffin travels by Rome
Athena Stavrou26 April 2025 11:53
Pope’s coffin passes main landmarks
Pope Francis’ coffin is now passing the Colosseum.
The Pontiff’s physique is travelling by the streets of Rome to St Mary Main’s basilica.
Hundreds have lined the streets to cheer for the late Pope’s easy picket coffin as he handed by.
Mapped: The Pope’s path to his last resting place
Pope Francis’ coffin is now being taken to his last resting place in St Mary Main Basilica.
The Pontiff’s physique is being taken by the streets of Rome, about 4km from St Peter’s Basilica the place his funeral mass has simply taken place.
The route crosses the river Tiber and passes Piazza Venezia adopted by the Colosseum.
The procession might be at strolling tempo to permit folks to bid farewell to the pope on his last journey and is anticipated to take round half-hour, relying on crowds.
Hundreds line the streets to say farewell to Pope
Hundreds have lined the streets of Rome to say a last farewell to Pope Francis.
Applause from crowds might be heard as Francis’ coffin handed in his Popemobile to the St Mary Main Basilica in Rome.
He’ll move well-known landmarks together with the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia on the path to his last resting place.
The 4km journey is anticipated to take round half an hour.
The route has been barricaded for safety causes, and marks the ultimate time the Pope might be “among the many folks”, as he requested.
Athena Stavrou26 April 2025 11:35
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Alex Croft26 April 2025 11:29
Funeral mass ends – what’s subsequent?
Pope Francis’ funeral mass has concluded, and his physique will now be taken to his last resting place.
Francis has chosen to be buried in St Mary Main Basilica in Rome, about 4km from St Peter’s Basilica.
The coffin might be taken by the streets of Rome to an underground tomb, as per his directions.
The procession might be at strolling tempo to permit folks to bid farewell to the pope on his last journey.
That is anticipated to take round half-hour, relying on crowds.
Pope Francis to be buried with heartwarming be aware
A be aware positioned in Pope Francis’s coffin earlier than his funeral pays tribute to his braveness, his love of the poor and his “dialogue with Muslims and representatives of different religions”.
It refers back to the 266th pope as “the beloved Shepherd of the Church”.
World leaders attended the funeral in entrance of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Metropolis, the place a whole bunch of hundreds of spectators and mourners gathered.
According to custom, a bag of cash and medals minted throughout his papacy, in addition to a “Rogito” – or deed – summarising his life had been additionally positioned contained in the coffin.
The deed, a sort of obituary written in Latin and sealed inside a steel cylinder, says he “left to all a marvellous witness of humanity, of holy residing, and of common fatherhood” and that the “whole Christian Group, particularly the poor, praised God” for his work.
When he was a cardinal in his native Argentina, he was “a easy and much-beloved pastor in his Archdiocese”, it says.
Alex Croft26 April 2025 11:25
Pope carried by ‘door of loss of life’
The Pope’s coffin is now being carried by what is named the “door of loss of life”.
He’s being carried to the left of the altar at St Peters basilica as a 10-ton funeral bell tolls.
Athena Stavrou26 April 2025 11:17
Zelensky and Trump meet in St Peter’s Basilica forward of Pope’s funeral
Earlier than Pope Francis’ funeral mass started, diplomacy between world leaders was going down on the sidelines.
US President Donald Trump had a “very productive dialogue” with Volodymyr Zelensky earlier than the funeral, a White Home official mentioned.
It’s the first time the pair have met in particular person because the calamitous Washington assembly in February, which noticed the Ukrainian president booted out of the White Home by a livid Mr Trump.
Steven Cheung, White Home communications director, mentioned Trump and Zelensky “met privately immediately and had a really productive dialogue”.
“Extra particulars in regards to the assembly will observe,” he mentioned.
Athena Stavrou26 April 2025 11:14
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