President Droupadi Murmu, along with several other world leaders like Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden and Keir Starmer, on Saturday (April 26) attended the funeral mass of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.In a video shared by ANI on X, the Indian President can be seen seated next to her Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, during Pope Francis’ state funeral.
#WATCH | Vatican City | President Droupadi Murmu, along with other world leaders, attends the state funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.
(Source: US Network Pool via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/3ECVRfRL8H— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2025
At the end of the ceremony, the Vatican released a brief statement noting that over 2,50,000 people had assembled at St Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ funeral.“The competent authority informs us that, while the funeral of Pope Francis has ended, more than 250,000 people are present,” AFP quoted the statement from the Vatican post the ceremony.Some of the other names from around the world that made it to the funeral included Argentine President Javier Milei, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., among others.Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, after suffering a stroke — a complication of chronic lung disease that plagued him for several months. He was 88. His followers around the world remember him for his major efforts towards migrants and the poor, and the steps taken by him during his 12-year leadership to reshape the Roman Catholic Church.The funeral Mass of Pope Francis took place on the steps of the basilica, regarded as one of the most pivotal sites of the Catholic Church.In attendance were people from all walks of life, including over 50 world leaders as well as 11 reigning monarchs, according to CNN.Pope Francis will be buried at the St. Mary Major Basilica, situated near the main train station in Rome. A simple underground tomb was set up that only has his name, Franciscus.Post the funeral mass, the coffin was carried on the back of a white popemobile, which was modified to allow mourners to line the streets to view it and pay their last respects.The 6-km motorcade route will carry Francis’ coffin from the Vatican to other places like the monumental Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the ancient Roman Forum, before reaching the Basilica.On Friday, President Murmu paid homage to Pope Francis at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City.
President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to His Holiness Pope Francis at Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City. pic.twitter.com/eymWVVZi4J
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 25, 2025Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, said that Pope Francis will always be remembered by the world for his service to society.
