The vehicle carrying Pope Francis arrived at Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome. Workers lifted his coffin from the adapted popemobile to bring it inside the building. The funeral procession traveled about six kilometers from Vatican City across the Tiber River. People watched from behind street barriers as the procession passed through central Rome near the Colosseum.
Francis becomes the first pope since 1903 not buried at the Vatican. He often visited this church after returning from foreign trips. The location holds special meaning as Francis deeply loved the Virgin Mary. This basilica, built in the fourth century, was the first church named for her. Crowds grew larger around the church as security tightened in recent hours.
Many young people filled the area, part of Catholic youth groups celebrating the Jubilee year. The diverse crowd included people wearing West African clothes standing near others with Argentine flags, honoring the first Latin American pope. A banner hung from a nearby apartment read simply Grazie Francesco in Italian. The Argentine Embassy stands just across from the square where his journey ends.
Francis becomes the first pope since 1903 not buried at the Vatican. He often visited this church after returning from foreign trips. The location holds special meaning as Francis deeply loved the Virgin Mary. This basilica, built in the fourth century, was the first church named for her. Crowds grew larger around the church as security tightened in recent hours.
Many young people filled the area, part of Catholic youth groups celebrating the Jubilee year. The diverse crowd included people wearing West African clothes standing near others with Argentine flags, honoring the first Latin American pope. A banner hung from a nearby apartment read simply Grazie Francesco in Italian. The Argentine Embassy stands just across from the square where his journey ends.
