Pope Francis funeral updates: Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000

Francis, 88, died on Monday at the Vatican.

ByKevin Shalvey and Jon Haworth
Last Updated: April 26, 2025, 11:45 AM EDT

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, was buried Saturday at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.

Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 25, 2025, 11:26 PM EDT

Trump, Biden among prominent US politicians attending the funeral

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will be in attendance at the funeral, departing for Rome on Friday morning.

Trump is only the second sitting president to attend a pope's funeral, following George W. Bush's attendance at John Paul II's funeral in 2005. Former President Bill Clinton also attended that funeral.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Air Force One for a trip to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, April 25, 2025, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Evan Vucci/AP

Joe Biden will also attend Saturday's funeral for Francis. He is only the second Catholic president ever and a great admirer of Pope Francis, whom he met twice as sitting president: in October 2021 and June 2024. Former first lady Jill Biden will also attend.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also a Catholic, will attend the funeral as will former Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

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