Alert – Pope Francis funeral live: Pontiff is laid to rest in front of Donald Trump, Prince William, Keir Starmer, and 250,000 mourners in Rome

As Pope Francis’ funeral draws to a close, here are a collection of some of the best photos from the service.

Watch our live stream of the Pope’s funeral as world leaders gather in the Vatican to say farewell to the head of the Catholic Church.

President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden sat just five rows between them at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, easily in the other’s sight line.

Each man had his wife at his side.

But, despite the close proximity, the two men avoided any interactions at the three-hour Catholic mass.

Trump and wife Melania sat in the front row. The Bidens were visible behind them – both Joe and Jill in sunglasses.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders including Donald Trump packed St Peter’s Square today for the funeral of Pope Francis.

Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with the Vatican reporting some 200,000 people in the square and surrounding streets during the ceremony.

The crowds, packed with young people, applauded as the pope’s coffin was carried out of St Peter’s Basilica by white gloved pallbearers, accompanied by more than 200 red-robed cardinals.

Francis was ‘a pope among the people, with an open heart’, who strove for a more compassionate, open-minded Catholic Church, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said in his funeral homily.

There was applause as he hailed the pope’s ‘conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open’.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has said the funeral of Pope Francis was ‘very moving’ and ‘uplifting’, after attending the ceremony in the Vatican.

Speaking from St Peter’s Square, he said: ‘It’s been a very moving ceremony, a very dignified ceremony, paying tribute to a life of service in arguing for the protection of the poor and to support those who seek justice.

‘But also an uplifting service about the hope for the world that Pope Francis conveyed.’

He spoke about his own experience of Christianity, saying it ‘makes me who I am’.

Mr Swinney said he had been baptised a Protestant but worships in the Catholic Church with his wife and son.

He said: ‘My wife and son are Catholics, I am not a member of the Catholic Church. But what for me matters is the deep anchoring of faith in my life.

‘It makes me who I am. It connects me with the love of God and it also connects me with the important teachings of doing unto others as I would have done unto me.

‘That drives my whole approach to life and it drives the political leadership and the national leadership I exercise as First Minister of Scotland.’

Sat amongst royalty and world leaders from around the globe, one man who attended Pope Francis’ funeral stood out from the rest.

President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, watched on as he joined other mourners attending the ceremony – all 250,000 of them.

Emotions are running high in Rome after mourners said their final goodbyes to Pope Francis, minutes ago.

His coffin has now been transported to its final resting place, with a private entombment planned for later today.

The public will be able to visit Francis’ tomb from Sunday morning.

In the meantime, mourners have been seen in tears as they felt the loss of the Argentine pope.

Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, was hailed as a progressive pontiff and was the first South America leader of the Catholic Church.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has praised a meeting with US President Donald Trump, describing it as a ‘good meeting’ and ‘has potential to become historic’.

The pair met in Rome to discuss agreeing a ceasefire with Russia to end the way in Ukraine.

Zelensky said: ‘Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered.

‘Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.

‘Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you @POTUS’.

However there was no mention made of a second meeting, which had been briefed by the Ukrainian government before Pope Francis’ funeral.

President Trump has since boarded Air Force One and is expected to leave Italy imminently.

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have boarded Air Force One as they prepared to leave Italy, shortly after the Pope’s funeral ended.

The President reportedly met with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni before departing Rome.

It is not known if he attended a second meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, as was previously planned.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has praised the ‘unity of people from all parts of the world’ after Pope Francis’ funeral ended this morning.

Posting on social media, President Zelensky said: ‘Farewell to Pope Francis and a special Mass at St. Peter’s Square.

‘The unity of people from all parts of the world. Gratitude to Pope Francis. Prayers that strengthen and inspire hope. May the Lord hear every sincere heart today!’

The Vatican said on Thursday that a ‘group of poor and needy people’ would be present on the steps leading to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pay their last respects to Francis before he is entombed.

The burial will be held in private.

The Vatican previously announced that people will be able to visit Francis’s tomb from Sunday morning.

It is understood it will be surrounded by white roses.

Mourners of Pope Francis have been seen holding white roses outside the Santa Maria Maggiore church.

The white roses are said to represent the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Baskets of the flowers were also brought in to the area where the Pope will be buried by local children.

The pope is set to be buried alongside a beloved portrait of Mary and baby Jesus, which was given to his predecessor in 593 AD.

His coffin bears an inscription which translates as: ‘Lowly but chosen’.

Pope Franchis’ coffin has just arrived at its final resting place.

Pall bearers lifted the coffin and took it inside Santa Maria Maggiore church.

The Pope chose to be buried outside the Vatican in Rome, making him the first in more than 100 years not to be interned there.

He will be buried alongside a portrait of the Virgin Mary, which he had a special love for.

His entombment will be a private event that is expected to be attended by members of his family.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been spotted in Rome attending the funeral of Pope Francis.

Mr Assange was accompanied by his young son, who he lifted up at times so he could get a better view.

In rare photos captured of Mr Assange, he appears to have grown out his short hair to almost shoulder-length locks.

An Italian police officer is standing guard every ten metres along the journey from St Peter’s Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore church.

Security operations have been extensive across the city, and this 6km route is no different.

There are also five police helicopters patrolling the skies, with a no fly zone in place.

US President Donald Trump has been spotted leaving Pope Francis’ funeral alongside his wife Melania moments ago.

The President waved at the crowds after being seen applauding the pope as his coffin passed on its way to its final resting place.

He is said to be meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky for a second time later today in a bid to end the war with Russia.

Donald Trump has been accused of showing ‘no respect’ after he arrived at Pope Francis’ funeral wearing a blue suit and a blue tie.

The strict dress code for the event at the Vatican dictated that men should wear a dark suit with a long black tie and white shirt. Shoes, long socks, coats and umbrellas also had to be black.

The president, who sat in the front row of hundreds of foreign dignitaries and royalty, donned a mid-blue outfit, adorned with a pin showing the American flag. He paired it with a shiny blue tie.

Traditionally, smart, dark outfits are worn out of a sign of respect – a practice adopted by many of the gathered mourners, inluding Sir Keir Starmer.

Melania, sitting beside her husband on her 55th birthday, could be seen pairing a conservative black coat with a lace veil and gloves.

It comes just two months after Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelensky was branded ‘disrespectful’ by a reporter in the White House for not wearing a suit on a visit to the Oval Office – with reports claiming Trump was irritated by his attire.

The coffin of Pope Francis was greeted by applause by the tens of thousands of people gathered along the route of his final journey.

Mourners could be seen taking photos and videos on their phones, while others cried and held each other.

By Nick Pisa

Police have barricaded the whole route from St Paul’s Square to Santa Maria Maggiore for security reasons.

The Pope asked to be buried at the church outside the Vatican, after having visited it more than 100 times.

His coffin is being carried by the Porta Perugino Popemobile.

Pope Francis’ coffin is now being drived through the streets of Rome to Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

Thousands of people have lined the streets to watch the procession, with the coffin being transported underneath see-through glass on top of the car.

Meanwhile back in St Peter’s Square, with the service over VIPs mingled on the steps talking and shaking hands.

The Vatican has just confirmed that more than 250,000 people gathered in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

New photographs show a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of today’s funeral.

The photos, released by the Ukrainian government, show intense discussions as the pair sat practically knee-to-knee.

They met for around 15 minutes at the Vatican today, and agreed to meet again later the same day for further talks, a spokesperson for Zelensky said.

Another photo released by Zelenskiy’s office showed Trump and Zelenskiy standing in a huddle in the same location, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Now that the official funeral of Pope Francis is over, mourners will gradually disperse around Rome.

The papal funeral marks the first of nine days of mourning for the global Church.

Pope Francis’ coffin will now be transported to Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

As per his wishes, he will be the first Pope in 100 years not to be interned at the Basilica.

Another Mass of mourning will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. That will be led by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is often viewed as a leading papal contender.

In coming days, the Vatican will announce the date for the start of the conclave that will choose Francis’ successor. This secret meeting of cardinals is unlikely to be before May 6.

As Pope Francis’ funeral ends, the official nine days of mourning commence, before the process to decide on a new Pope begin.

The coffin of the late Pope has been lifted and taken back into the basilica in St Paul’s Square.

The gathered mourners broke into a round of applause as Pope Francis’ coffin left the square.

As the service ended there was a round of applause from the huge crowd gathered in front of St Peter’s Church.

By Nick Pisa

Patriarchs and bishops from the Eastern Orthodox church were invited to bless the coffin with incense near the end of the service and led prayers and chants in Greek.

Cardinal Re then closed the service with a prayer saying: ‘Gracious Father, we commend to your mercy our Pope Francis whom you made successor of Peter and Shepherd of the Church, a fearless preacher of your word an a faithful minster of the divine mysteries.

‘Welcome him we pray, into your heavenly dwelling place, to enjoy eternal glory with all your chosen ones.

‘We give you thanks, Lord, for all the blessings that in your goodness you bestowed upon him for the good of your people.’

The final item in the funeral will be the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Holy water is being sprinkled on the coffin of Pope Francis for the last time.

This is to represent the baptising of the faithful, before further incense is used to purify it.

The pure scale of Pope Francis’s funeral is hard to comprehend.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned up to say farewell, easily overflowing St Peter’s Square and the streets surrounding it.

Giant screens have been put up around Rome to help the faithful follow the funeral.

And in St Peter’s Square itself, among the 40,000 mourners are thousands of religious figures including cardinals, bishops and priests.

The final prayers of the service are now being read.

A few minutes ago, mourners gathered in St Peter’s Square undertook the Rite of Communion.

Religious figures gathered around the square played a pivotal role as they passed out wafers.

Those gathered in St Peter’s Square are now hearing the Prayer of the Church in Rome.

Performed by a choir, the prayer consists mainly of naming the saints of the Catholic Church, followed by the imploration: ‘Pray for him’.

It ends: ‘All holy men and women, saints of God, pray for him. Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

‘O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our Bishop, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth.

‘Through Christ our Lord. Amen.’

With the Communion Rite completed, the service is resuming in Rome with a prayer.

Cardinal Re is now making the final commendation and farewell to Pope Francis.

‘Dear brothers and sisters, let us commend to God’s tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, Bishop of the Catholic Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection,’ he says.

‘Let us pray to God our Father through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit; may he deliver him from death, welcome him to eternal peace and raise up him on the last day.’

Hundreds of foreign dignitaries have attended the funeral of Pope Francis today.

Pictures show just how many world leaders and royals have come to pay their respects to the leader of the Catholic Church.

While Trump and Macron are on the front row, UK representatives Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William are several rows back.

The seating plan was arranged by alphabetical order of countries in French.

A vast delegation of European royals have arrived in St Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis today, with Prince William representing his father King Charles at the ceremony.

Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, also known as the Prince of Venice, was the first to make his way to the St. Peter’s Square for the funeral service for the Argentine pontiff who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

He was quickly followed by Prince William and Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway – who were seated together – and royals from Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Monaco.

Vatican City has been transformed into a fortress with a ring of steel as world leaders and dignitaries, including 12 reigning monarchs and 55 heads of state, joined hundreds of thousands of mourners in bidding farewell to the Pope.

Those gathered at the Funeral of Pope Francis are now taking communion.

Religious figures are distributing bread and wine for the faithful to partake in the tradition.

According to the Bible, the bread represents Christ’s flesh and the wine his blood.

The same rite is happening in churches across the world, as the choir in St Peter’s Square continues to sing.

Mourners of Pope Francis in the Vatican today have joined together in the Communion Rite.

Delivered in Italian, this included the performance of the Lord’s prayer by choiristers.

Cardinal Re then invited those in attendance to offer a ‘sign of peace’ – by shaking hands with their fellow mourners.

US President Donald Trump was seen shaking hands with multiple other dinitaries, as was his wife Melania.

The Prince of Wales spoke briefly to US President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump on his way into the service, Kensington Palace has said.

William also encountered and spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron before the mass.

The Prince was seen being handed a bottle of water during the funeral service, as were other dignitaries, as temperatures reached 23C.

He was pictured sitting next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The US and Ukrainian Presidents have been pictured appearing solemn at Pope Francis’ funeral, as White House officials say the pair had ‘very productive’ talks ahead of the ceremony.

President Donald Trump had a ‘very productive discussion’ with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday, a White House official said.

Steven Cheung, White House communications director, said Trump and Zelenskiy ‘met privately today and had a very productive discussion’.

‘More details about the meeting will follow,’ he said.

Following the sermon prayers were said in Arabic, Spanish, Polish, German, Chinese and Italian.

Preparations were then made for Holy Communion, with bread and wine being brought to the Altar.

The Altar was incensed and purified, before the congregation were also incensed and purified.

Those gathered in the square continued to pray as Cardinal Re performed the Prayer over the Offerings.

This was followed by the Eucharistic Prayer.

By Nick Pisa

The crowd around the Vatican broke into applause as Cardinal Re recalled how he visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, which is the landing point for many migrants arriving into Europe and a similar trip to Lesbos in Greece.

Cardinal Re described the trip as ‘significant’ as it ‘symbolises the tragedy of emigration’ and that his gestures in ‘favour of refugees and displaced persons are countless’ and his ‘insistence working on behalf of the poor were constant’.

He described the Pope as: ‘Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time of globalisation.

‘He gave himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people’s hearts in a direct and immediate way.’

As he spoke there were several rounds of applause, especially when Cardinal Re spoke of Pope’s Francis campaign for world peace as he recalled his message: ‘Build bridges not walls’.

He concluded by saying: ‘Pope Francis used to conclude his speeches and meetings by saying: “http://www.dailymail.co.uk/”Do not forget to pray for me.”http://www.dailymail.co.uk/”

‘Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven, as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.’

The Universal Prayer, also known as the Prayer of the Faithful, has just been led by cardinal Re for the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in and around St Peter’s Square.

This will be followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has said Pope Francis ‘reached people’s hearts in a direct and immediate way’ as he paid tribute to his work with refugees.

‘Th guiding thread of his mission was the conviction that the church is a home for all.

‘A home with its doors always open.’

He also says Francis’s gestures in favour of refugees and displaced people are ‘countless’.

‘Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life,’ Cardinal Re has said

‘He established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalised, the least among us.

‘He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone.

‘He was also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the church,’ he added.

By Nick Pisa

Cardinal Re continued his sermon by thanking ‘heads of state, government and official delegations who have come from many countries’ to attend the funeral today.

He added that the outpouring of ‘affection witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts’.

Cardinal Re added that ‘the final memory’ of the Pope passing through St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, despite his poor health, would be ‘etched in our memory’.

Melania Trump marked another tough birthday as she joined President Donald Trump at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.

The first lady turned 55 and spent a ‘working birthday,’ as the president put it.

But the somber atmosphere echoes the mood of past birthdays, which have been rough for Melania.

Last year, she marked her first birthday since the death of her mother, Amalija Knavs, who died in January 2024. At the same time her husband was on trial in New York City over a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The first lady was a quiet presence at Saturday’s service.

Cardinal Re opened his sermon in the last few minutes as he led worshippers at the Pope’s funeral in Rome.

He said: ‘In this majestic Saint Peter’s Square where Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist so many times and presided over great gatherings over the past twelve years, we are gathered with sad hearts in prayer around his mortal remains.’

As is traditional, the eulogy is being given in Italian.

By Nick Pisa

The first reading was from the Acts of the Apostles (10, 34-43) and described how Christ had preached throughout Israel and how after his death he rose again.

The Gospel reading was from John (21, 15-19) and spoke of how Christ had asked Peter (the first Pope) to look after his sheep (followers).

The Vatican has said that attendance at the Pope’s funeral has topped estimates of 200,000.

It is estimated some 250,000 people have crowded into St Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets.

US President was pride of place at the Pope’s funeral on Saturday as he and his wife Melania stood in the front row of hundreds of foreign dignitaries and royalty.

The President was seated between Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Estonia’s President Alar Karis.

Also in the front row was French President Emmanuel Macron and members of Europe’s royal families.

The seating plan was based on a complex order of precedence, with Argentina – the country of the Pope’s birth – and Italy at the front.

Other sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of government were then seated in alphabetical order of their countries’ names in the French language – used because French is considered the language of diplomacy.

Catholics held each other close as they became overwhelmed with emotion during the funeral of Pope Francis this morning.

Faithful were seen in tears and hugging one another as they grieved the death of the leader of the Catholic Church.

For many, they have waited hours to say their final goodbyes.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is now reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

This will be followed by a Psalm and a reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.

There will then be further readings from the Gospel.

By Nick Pisa

A copy of the Gospel was placed on the coffin of Pope Francis after it had been carried into St Peter’s Square.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is leading the service, opened the mass by incensing the altar as prayers were sung by the faithful in the crowd.

He then led a prayer for those in attendance.

‘O God, immortal shepherd of souls, look on your people’s prayers and grant that your servant Pope Francis, who presided over your Church in charity, may, with the flock entrusted to his care, receive from your mercy the reward of a faithful steward.

‘Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.’

The Ukrainian government has said Zelensky and Trump met ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral.

The pair are thought to have discussed the war in Ukraine, after a senior meeting between Russian and US dignitaries this week.

The coffin of Pope Francis was carried out into St Peter’s Square moments ago.

Some 14 pall bearers lifted the Pope before walking him in front of his worshippers.

In a break with tradition, Pope Francis requested a single wooden coffin lined with zinc, rather than the three separate coffins used by previous pontiffs.

As a choir sings as the final cardinals enter St Peter’s Square, the streets are filled with music and grief.

A Holy Bible is carried up to Pope Francis’ coffin in preparation for the opening rites.

The entrance antiphon is currently ringing out across the square.

This is a selection of psalm verses or scripture passages that are traditionally sung or recited.

Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to receive a round of applause as he stepped out of St Peter’s Basilica.

The crowd of assembled world leaders clapped as the Ukrainian president walked down the steps into St Peter’s Square.

The funeral for Pope Francis, who died on Saturday, has just begun at the Vatican.

The Pope’s coffin, which is a simplified version of previous pontiff’s coffins, is being carried outside into St Peter’s Square.

The Vatican said 190 cardinals and bishops would take part in the funeral mass.

As the coffin was picked up by 14 pall bearers a ripple of applause broke out from the crowd who were watching the giant screens in front of St Peters.

With the funeral set to begin any minute now, Prince William has just arrived in St Peter’s Square.

The Prince of Wales is representing his father, King Charles, as Charles once did for his own mother the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is also in attendance, could be seen chatting with Italian counterparts and Foreign Secretary David Lammy was alongside him.

Argentinian President Javier Milei has arrived in St Peter’s Square in the last few minutes to mourn the death of his citizen, Pope Francis.

Pope Francis was the first-ever South American Pope in a landmark appointment praised all over the world.

Preisdent Milei will have a special seating area at the ceremony due to the Pope’s nationality.

By Nick Pisa

The bells of St Peter started chiming the solemn death toll at just before 9.45 with an announcer telling he crowd the sevice would start shortly with he coffin being led from the Basilica and out onto the steps in front.

Mourners were asked ‘not to hold up banners’ so that others behind could see.

Just before 9.30am the Rosary prayer was recited by the crowd as prayers were read aloud.

A section of the gospel – the passage that tells of how Mary Magdalene and other women went to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning and found it empty, as he was resurrected – was also read.

However the noise of overhead helicopters almost completely drowned out sections of the readings.

Dignitaries from around the world are continuing to assemble at the Vatican this morning, ahead of the funeral, which will start at 9am UK time.

Some of the latest to arrive include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

President Trump has just arrived in St Peter’s Square ahead of the Pope’s Funeral.

He and his wife Melania paid tribute to the late Pontiff before taking their seats.

Crowds have been pictured cramming into St Peter’s Square, as local police said more than 40,000 are already in the square itself.

More than 6,000 police and soldiers will be on duty to provide security at the Vatican not only for the crowds but more than 140 delegations expected from all around the world.

Officials opened the square in front of St Peter’s at 5.30am and crowds and an astonishing 56 x-ray machines and scanners had been set up to control those arriving.

A police source in Rome said: ‘There is no raised level of threat but we are prepared for everything.’

European royals have begun arriving at the Vatican ahead of the start of the funeral service for Argentine pontiff Pope Francis.

Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia and Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have so far been spotted in St Peter’s Square.

Ten reigning monarchs are expected to attend today’s funeral, with Prince William representing King Charles.

By Nick Pisa

Prince William is among the mourners attending the funeral and he will arrive this morning on a King’s Flight before heading back to London straight after, so he can watch his beloved Aston Villa play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final with his family.

US President Donald Trump and wife Melania landed over night and PM Sir Keir Stramer will also be among the VIPs sat close to the altar and the coffin of Pope Francis, Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky is also now coming, after saying on Friday he may be unable to attend.

Pope Francis nephew Mauro Bergoglio, was also at the mass thanks to a travel company who paid for his ticket from Argentina after he revealed in a TV interview he was broke.

Arriving at the Vatican this morning, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols told : ‘I will never forget Pope Francis’ smile’.

President Trump and his wife Melania will have front row seats during the Pope’s funeral, understands.

The president is currently on his way to the Vatican along with a press pack following security checks.

It’s understood Trump will be sat next to the President of Estonia, Alar Karis.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend today’s ceremony in the vast square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pictures show the extraordinary oragnisational feat that has been pulled off in just six days – with thousands crammed into marked out areas.

Those at St Peter’s Square are from all nationalities and walks of life – with even some prisoners in attendance.

Pope Francis regularly visited jails as part of his work in the church, even bathing the feet of inmates.

By Nick Pisa

Overnight an icon much loved by the Pope called the Salus Populi Romani which shows the Virgin Mary and the Christ child and was said to have been made by St Luke the Evangelist, was brought from Santa Maria Maggiore and placed by the side of the altar on the steps of St Peter.

Pope Francis would often pray at the Santa Maria Maggiore church, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mar.

He would pray in front of the icon, with the officials saying he made 126 visits there in his 12 year reign as Pope and the last just a few weks ago after he was released from hospital following a five week stay earlier this year.

Former US President Joe Biden has arrived at the Vatican alongside his wife, Jill, as they prepare to attend Pope Francis’ funeral this morning.

The former President and his wife looked sombre as they were pictured arriving in St Peter’s Square.

Current President Trump and his wife Melania are also in attendance.

Cardinals will elect a new pope after the official mourning period ends

The work of the conclave to choose a new pope won’t start until at least May 5, after nine days of public mourning.

Cardinals have been meeting daily in Rome to discuss church business as attention shifts to who will succeed Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Speaking on Thursday, Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni said:

We are getting ready, but we still have not entered into the more intense phase. We are in the organisational phase.

UK theologian Professor Anna Rowlands said the identity of the next pope is ‘totally unpredictable’, adding the release of the film Conclave has likely sparked the public’s interest in the centuries-old process.

She said:

The timing of the film Conclave, even though obviously it is a fictional representation, the timing couldn’t be more powerful. I think people do have some sense that something big and momentous and dramatic will happen at the heart of the Catholic Church and here in Rome in the coming weeks.

Asked who is in the running to be the next pope, she said any predictions are currently based on ‘pure speculation’. She added:

Genuinely nobody knows. I think all bets are off.

Cardinals at the Vatican in Rome have been pictured as they prepare for the start of Pope Francis’ funeral following his death on Easter Monday.

The Argentine pontiff passed away just hours after making a final appearance to deliver his Easter message and meet crowds on Sunday.

The cardinals – of whom there are 252 – have gathered in Rome as is traditional after a Pope’s death, where they have organised proceedings for today.

It is the same cardinals who will soon have the duty of electing a new leader of the Catholic Church.

by Nick Pisa

The obituary placed in his coffin described how Francis was the 266th Pope and that he would ‘remain in the heart of the Church and of humanity’.

It added that while in Buenos Aries as Archbishop he was a ‘simple and much loved shepherd’ who ‘traveled far and wide across the city on the underground and the bus, cooking his own meals because hew felt one of the people’.

It closed by saying:’ Francis has left everyone a wonderful testimony of humanity, life of a saint and universal fatherhood’.

The zinc inner lid that covered his body c carried his name, a cross and his coat of arms and the  of his papacy, 2013-2025, unlike previous Popes his was just a single coffin whereas previous ones had three caskets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Rome ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis later today, a spokesperson has said.

He will be joined by leaders from around the world, including Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump.

Zelensky has travelled from Ukraine for the trip amid efforts to come to a ceasefire in the war with Russia.

Trump has been spearheading efforts and it has been reported that he may use this occasion as another opportunity to broker a deal.

However he has come under fierce criticism for threatening to walk away from negotiations if a deal is not made soon.

Zelensky cut a trip to South Africa short this week after the capital Kyiv was attacked, leading to the deaths of around ten people.

Let’s remind ourselves how we got to the funeral today following a sombre week in the Vatican and for millions of Catholics across the world:

• Easter Monday

Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced to the world Pope Francis had died at his Vatican residence hours after appearing on the central lodge at St Peter Basilica on Easter Sunday. The 88-year-old suffered bouts of ill health including a 38-day stay at Gemelli Hospital where he was in a critical condition with double pneumonia. His last testament is published confirming a wish to be buried outside the Vatican at the Basilica of St Mary Major

• Tuesday

The Vatican publishes the first images of the deceased pope lying in a wooden coffin dressed in red, with rosary beads draped across his hands. It is also confirmed Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday at 10am local time and that his body will lie in state for three days to allow Catholics to mourn him.

• Wednesday

Catholic cardinals performed a ritual ceremony before Francis’s body is transferred from the Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived to St. Peter’s Basilica where it goes on public display for the first time.

• Thursday

The surgeon who was at Pope Francis’s bedside when he died revealed how doctors fulfilled one of his final wishes by allowing him to die at home instead of in hospital. Sergio Alfieri, the Pope’s chief surgeon, said Francis failed to respond to any stimuli from medical staff as he lay open-eyed in a coma shortly before his death.

• Friday

The final mourners pay their respects as world leaders start to arrive for the funeral. The Vatican confirms more than 250,000 people have viewed the Pope’s body lying in state for the past three days. At 8pm Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell presides over the Rite of Sealing cereemony to close the coffin ahead of the funeral.

Thousands of mourners camped out overnight for today’s funeral for Pope Francis, with tens of thousands more expected to arrive in the coming hours.

‘We spent the whole night here in the car with the children,’ said Peruvian Gabriela Lazo, 41.

‘We are very sorry for what happened to him because we hold a South American pope in our hearts.’

‘He was not just the pope, he was what the definition of being human is,’ said Andrea Ugalde, 39, who flew from Los Angeles to attend Saturday’s mass.

US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump touched down in Rome last night as the world prepares mark Pope Francis’ funeral.

Trump is one of dozens of world leaders who jetted to Italy ahead of the historic funeral of the pontiff, who died at the age of 88 on Monday.

Today, the world’s elite will be attending the formal funeral of the trailblazing religious figure, after three days where the world was given the chance to pay their respects to the late Catholic leader.

Yesterday evening, droves of faithfuls lined the streets of the Vatican City as they waited to pay tribute to Pope Francis.

The President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, has predicted the funeral will be a ‘masterpiece’ in stage-managing ‘big egos’.

• Watch the video of the moment the Trumps arrived and read more here

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump will both attend the Pope's funeral

The Vatican said at least 130 foreign delegations had confirmed their attendance at Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, including around 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.

Here is a list of VIP guests whose offices have confirmed they will be in Rome:

• Americas

Argentina: President Javier Milei.

Brazil: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife Janja.

Honduras: President Xiomara Castro.

United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

United States: President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.

• Europe

Austria: Chancellor Christian Stocker.

Belgium: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, with Prime Minister Bart De Wever.

Bulgaria: Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov.

Croatia: President Zoran Milanovic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Denmark: Queen Mary.

Estonia: President Alar Karis.

European Union: EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Finland: President Alexander Stubb.

France: President Emmanuel Macron.

Germany: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Greece: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Hungary: President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Ireland: President Michael Higgins and his wife Sabina, plus Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin.

Kosovo: President Vjosa Osmani.

Latvia: President Edgars Rinkevics.

Lithuania: President Gitanas Nauseda.

Moldova: President Maia Sandu.

Monaco: Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.

The Netherlands: Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.

North Macedonia: President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Poland: President Andrzej Duda and his wife.

Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

Romania: Interim President Ilie Bolojan.

Russia: Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.

Slovakia: President Peter Pellegrini.

Slovenia: President Natasa Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Spain: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska.

United Kingdom: Prince William representing head of state King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

• Middle East

Israel: Yaron Sideman, Ambassador to the Holy See.

• Africa

Cape Verde: President Jose Maria Neves.

Central African Republic: President Faustin-Archange Touadera.

Democratic Republic of Congo: President Felix Tshisekedi.

Gabon: President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema

• Asia

India: President Droupadi Murmu.

Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos and first lady Liza Marcos.

People pass through police security checks as they queue on the street

Security is tight around the Vatican with sharpshooters on rooftops overlooking the Vatican, patrols passing through the crowds and several units of soldiers can be seen armed with anti drone Italian made CPM jammers that look like bazookas.

More than 50 metal detectors and x ray machines have been set up along both colonnades either side of St Peter’s Square to scan people as they make their way as close as possible to try ad get a view but if you aren’t here already, you haven’t a hope.

Six giant TV screens have been set up along the Via della Concilazione, the main road that links to St Peter’s and there are others at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica where the Pope will be buried and elsewhere through the city as up to 500,000 are expected for the service.

On Friday after the coffin was sealed the Vatican said more than 250,000 had filed past Pope Francis coffin during his three day lying in state, with French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte being among the final few to pay their respects.

Rome’s turn in the spotlight will not end with the funeral. Huge crowds generally gather to wait for the outcome of the secret conclave of cardinals that elects a new pope. That is not expected to start before May 6.

by Nick Pisa

The Pope’s coffin had been guarded through the night in St Peter’s Basilica by a detachment of Swiss Guards holding lances in their colourful uniforms.

Earlier the coffin had been closed by the Cardinal camerlengo Kevin Farrell who was joined by the scandal hit former Archbishop of LA Roger Mahony.

Following ancient ritual a bag of coins and medals minted during his reign were placed in the coffin along with an obituary detailing his life.

He was wearing his traditional red Papal robes, symbolising blood and love, his mitre and his favourite well worn black lace up shoes.

by Nick Pisa in Vatican City

Crowds began to gather overnight for the funeral of Pope Francis with many hoping to bag a good spot with a view of the altar at the front of St Peter’s.

By just after 7am local time there were thousands of people packed along Via della Concilazione singing hymns, praying and swapping stories about Pope Francis.

Although the day had dawned bright and sunny a chilly mist rolled in from the Tiber has begun to envelop the Vatican sending the temperature down.

The Pope’s funeral is scheduled to take place at 10am local time, 9am UK time.

Here’s what we can expect.

• Funeral mass

The Pope’s final journey will begin at the Altar of the Confessio, near the main altar of St Peter’s Basilica (pictured) above the tomb of St Peter, the first pope.

The coffin will be taken out of the basilica and placed on a dais in St Peter’s Square.

The service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. He will be joined by cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the world.

Francis’ coffin will be brought back into the Basilica after the eucharist, final commendation and valediction.

• Burial

Flanked by Swiss Guards, Pope Francis’ coffin will then be carried by the pallbearers – the ‘sediari’ – in procession with priests, bishops and cardinals across Rome’s River Tiber to the Basilica of St Mary Major (pictured above), where Francis will be buried.

This will be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

• How can I watch it?

will livestream the funeral from 7am onwards.

BBC, Sky News, ITVX, the Vatican website and YouTube will also broadcast the event live.

Our stream will be pinned to the top of this page when it becomes live.

Hello and welcome to ‘s live coverage of Pope Francis’s funeral in Vatican City as world pays its final respects to the head of the Catholic Church.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral this morning in St Peter’s Square, among them heads of state, royals, Catholic officials and mourners from around the globe.

It comes after Francis died in the early hours of Easter Monday hours after he made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday despite ongoing health struggles.

The 88-year-old spent 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital earlier this year after a respiratory illness turned into double pneumonia which had left him critically ill.

Italian and Vatican authorities have placed the area around St Peter’s under tight security with drones blocked, snipers on roofs and fighter jets on standby.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you the latest updates from the funeral which starts at 9am UK time (10am local time) plus reaction, analysis and the most eye-catching videos and pictures from the day.