Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome Basilica

World leaders and Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday to say goodbye to Pope Francis. The funeral mass paid tribute to his life and priorities as pope, reflecting his commitment to the marginalized.

While dignitaries from around the globe attended the service, Pope Francis’ final resting place will be in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. It’s there that a group of prisoners and migrants will welcome him, highlighting his focus on those often overlooked.

Tens of thousands of people arrived early on a beautiful spring day to honor the Argentine pontiff, who passed away on April 21st at the age of 88 after a stroke. He had recently returned home from a five-week hospital stay where he battled double pneumonia.

The funeral marked the first step in the process of choosing a new pope. Cardinals met in a special gathering to set the date and will soon convene in a conclave to elect his successor within the next three weeks.