Francis laid to rest as 400,000 mourn pope 'with open heart'

Pope Francis' farewell ceremony brought thousands of Catholics and world leaders to Rome to honor a papal figure celebrated for his compassionate approach to serving the poor. Over 400,000 attended St. Peter's Square and streets of Rome, marking a historic moment as the first Latin American pope to hold such an event on his death. A plain wooden coffin, a symbol of humility, was transported to Santa Maria Maggiore for a private interment, reflecting the pontiff's dedication to a Catholicism rooted in compassion and service.