Pope Francis buried after funeral attended by world leaders, royals and 400,000 mourners

Pope Francis has been laid to rest in Rome following solemn, hours-long funeral rites at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, bringing to a close his sometimes turbulent 12-year leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The Argentinian pontiff, who died earlier this week from a stroke and cardiac arrest at the age of 88, was buried on Saturday at the Basilica of St Mary Major in the Italian capital.

As sunny skies greeted crowds of well-wishers in Rome, tens of thousands packed the square to attend the ceremony, officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, with many queueing from the early hours outside the square.

Security around the Vatican was unprecedented, with Italian authorities deploying more than 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers, closing the airspace above Vatican City, and stationing a torpedo ship off the coast, Italian media reported.

Applause and cheers rang out as Francis’s wooden coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was carried by 14 white-gloved pallbearers through the main doors of St Peter’s Basilica to the outdoor funeral service.

READ ALSO: Trump dragged for allegedly breaking dress code at Pope Francis’ funeral

Among the mourners were royals and global leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, who had frequently clashed with Francis over their sharply contrasting views on immigration.

French President Emmanuel Macron, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Union leaders, the United Kingdom’s Prince William, and members of the Spanish royal family were also in attendance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had initially said he could not attend due to new Russian attacks, was present after all. According to reports, he held a meeting with Trump before the ceremony – their first face-to-face encounter since a heated Oval Office clash in February.

Follow BONA NAIJA for more..

• Pope Francis buried after funeral attended by world leaders, royals and 400,000 mourners
• Trump dragged for allegedly breaking dress code at Pope Francis’ funeral
• ‘They’re getting international support’ – Gov Zulum raises alarm as Boko Haram, ISWAP regroup
• “I Never Collapsed” – Wike Lists Conditions for Reconciliation with Fubara
• Dangote Joins World Bank’s Global Investment Lab to Boost Emerging Economies