From mightiest to humblest, hundreds of thousands gather for Pope Francis’ funeral

From various of the world s the majority powerful leaders to those on society s margins whom Pope Francis inevitably made a point to minister to hundreds of thousands of people participated at the Vatican Saturday for the funeral rites for the late pontiff U S President Donald Trump and a few other heads of state and reigning sovereigns travelled to Rome from around the globe The Vatican mentioned that a group of the poor and the needy would be on the actions of St Mary Major Basilica to pay homage to the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope before his burial in the church Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St Mary Major Basilica near an icon of the Madonna that he revered because it reflects his humble simple and essential life the archbishop who administers the basilica commented Friday The Holy See press office explained that the poor had a special place in Francis heart He had chosen for his papacy the name of the medieval Italian saint who famously renounced his family s wealth when he joined the church Already long lines of the faithful have paid their homage to Francis who died Monday at age over the three days that his body was lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St Peter s Basilica From the beginning of his papacy in Francis won over a large number of around the world Catholic or not with his advocacy for displaced persons and the circumstances His legacy was more mixed on the topics of clergy sexual abuse and LGBTQ outreach which made waves for increasing inclusion but various criticized for not going far enough AP Photo Felipe DanaPope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd ahead of his weekly general audience in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Feb AP Photo Felipe Dana AP Photo Emilio MorenattiNuns and faithful listen to mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday AP Photo Emilio Morenatti AP Photo Gregorio BorgiaThe coffin of Pope Francis is carried in front of dignitaries including President Donald Trump center during his funeral in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday AP Photo Gregorio Borgia AP Photo Gregorio BorgiaA view of the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday AP Photo Gregorio Borgia