As world leaders filled the front rows at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered within and beyond the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square.
Beneath the Roman sun, vast crowds of devoted worshippers stood for hours beyond the orderly lines of cardinals, who remained seated in their vibrant robes and ceremonial hats.
The burial of the late pontiff marked a peak moment in what will be a weeks-long transition—from mourning one pope to choosing his successor, a process not seen in over a decade. The event has drawn Catholics from across the globe, filling Vatican City with a mood both solemn and welcoming.
“I felt a strong need to show my gratitude, my respect, and to deepen the spiritual connection with someone who, for me, embodies the core of the Catholic faith,” said Daniel Sanz, who had traveled from Spain.
“Being in the pope’s presence was a powerful moment of emotion and reflection—a chance to reaffirm my commitment to those values,” the teenager told NBC News.
Standing alongside the group of friends he’d traveled with from Madrid, Sanz wore a white rosary around his neck. “For me, Catholicism is a way of life,” he explained. “It’s a path that calls me to live with humility, responsibility, and love for others.”
As gentle hymns floated through the square, Sunny Okuku—a community leader of the Itsekiri ethnic group from Nigeria now living in England—reflected quietly on Pope Francis.
“He sought simplicity, embraced humility, and devoted himself to serving all people—especially those most in need,” Okuku said, holding a commemorative Vatican newspaper honoring the pope. Two long feathers were neatly taped to his fedora. “To me, he was a saint in life,” he added.
Clad in a flowing black robe with a wool coat draped over his shoulders, Cameroonian priest Derick Banin stood quietly in prayer before the grand dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“It’s my way of paying final respects to him [Francis] and thanking him for all he did for the Church,” Banin said afterward.
“As he departs this world, we ask that he continues to pray for us, just as we pray for his soul.”
As dawn broke on Saturday, clusters of teenagers still asleep on the cobbled square remained undisturbed as early arrivals quietly gathered for the ceremony. Nearby, other visitors rested their tired heads on café tables, waiting for the chance to give thanks to a leader they believed stood for everyday people—and to offer prayers for whoever comes next.
Francis had long been a strong advocate for peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Although Saturday’s ceremony was partially eclipsed by an unexpected meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—who sought to resolve tensions over Russia’s continuing invasion—reminders of Francis’ connection to the war were evident among the crowd.
At the rear of the audience, beneath the towering stone columns of St. Peter’s Square, a woman quietly waved a Ukrainian flag.
Shades of yellow were prominent throughout the square, worn in many forms and by people from every corner of the globe.
Among them stood King Thomas, an interfaith preacher who splits his time between Germany and Thailand. Draped in a richly adorned, citrus-hued cloak, he spoke of his spiritual mission across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. “I came to honor a fellow traveler who has moved on to the next level in the sky,” he said, offering his condolences.
From Boy Scouts with bright neckerchiefs and men in traditional Polish folk dress to dozing nuns clutching ceremonial crucifixes, the crowd was a vivid reflection of the Catholic Church’s vast and varied reach.
The warmth lingered into Sunday as crowds slowly filtered out of Vatican City. Yet some locals remained, like the elderly couple basking in the spring sunlight, sharing a tender moment on their Juliet balcony overlooking the quiet streets below.
