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

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 United States President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer , French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince William and other world leaders joined thousands of mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter’s Square itself to watch the funeral and bide the Pope farewell.

According to Italy’s Interior Minister, at least 400,000 people gathered in Vatican City for Pope Francis’ funeral and lined the streets to watch his coffin being taken to the Santa Maria Maggiore church for burial.

“We estimate not fewer than 400,000 people between those present in St Peter’s Square and those along the route,” Matteo Piantedosi tells Italian news programme TG5.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, at the age of 88.