Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, was laid to rest in a humble ceremony at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, fulfilling his wish for a simple funeral.
As the world mourns his passing, Indian leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi, offered their final tributes to the late pope.
Pope Francis was buried on April 21 at the age of 88 in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence, in accordance with his wish for modesty.
Forgoing the traditional triple-layered papal coffin, officials placed his body in a single wooden casket.
His final resting place, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, features a Ligurian marble tomb honouring his great-grandfather’s roots.
The tomb bears a simple inscription of his papal name, Franciscus, and an image of the cross he wore as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell led the funeral rites, reflecting the pope’s humble legacy and service to the marginalised.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Friday to pay her respects. She was accompanied by Ministers Kiren Rijiju and George Kurian.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the visit in a post on X, stating that the Indian delegation honoured Pope Francis for his contributions to global peace, interfaith dialogue, and human dignity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Saturday to express his condolences and appreciation for the pope’s legacy, “Rashtrapati Ji pays homage to His Holiness, Pope Francis, on behalf of the people of India. The world will always remember his service to society,” PM Modi wrote on X.
PM Modi had previously met Pope Francis in 2021 at the Vatican. PM met him again on the sidelines of the recent G7 summit in Apulia, Italy.
Their meetings covered a broad range of global issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic and humanitarian concerns.
Pope Francis, who succeeded Benedict XVI in 2013, was the first Jesuit pope for the poor, refugees, and the environment.
His papacy ushered in a more inclusive Church. Meanwhile, his death marked the end of an era of humility and reform.
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