POPE Francis is carried on his final journey in a simple wooden casket yesterday as a million mourners bade an emotional farewell at his funeral.
— including , Sir and — gathered in alongside the disadvantaged so famously championed by the “Pope of the People”;.
was bathed in sunshine for a spectacular, colourful and deeply moving ceremony steeped in papal pomp — but with departures from tradition at the late pontiff’s request.
It was held where Francis performed his last selfless act — last weekend, the next morning, aged 88.
His close friend, 91-year-old Italian Cardinal , said yesterday that he wanted to be close to those who needed him, despite being close to death.
He told mourners: “The final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory, is that of last Sunday, Easter Sunday.
“Pope Francis, despite , wanted to give us his blessing from the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
“He then came down to this square to greet the large crowd gathered for the Mass while riding in the open-top Popemobile.
“He was 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.
“, we now ask you to pray for us and bless the whole world from heaven as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this Basilica in a final embrace.”;
More than 250,000 queued to see for three days before his coffin was ceremonially closed on Friday evening.
The same number again were estimated to be inside the Vatican yesterday, including many who had flown from the UK, with another 750,000 outside.
Mourners gathered in the pre-dawn darkness to get a prime spot, then celebrated his life and ate Italian pastries with others from all nations, including non-Catholics.
The ceremony began at 10am — 9am UK time — when Francis’s casket was carried into St Peter’s Square by 14 uniformed pallbearers.
The spectacular scene brought gasps from the crowd, followed by warm applause.
wanted no grand podium, with his plain casket placed on the ground beside a single candle.
Non-Catholics came from a night out clubbing. Everyone is welcome and that’s exactly what this day is supposed to be about
Madison Gifford, from Nebraska,
But it was impossible to disguise the opulence and history of the moment, with the statues of 140 saints ringing the historic square.
More than 170 royals and heads of state were also placed according to age-old protocols on the north side in cushioned red VIP seats opposite cardinals in scarlet robes.
Choral music filled the air under blue skies and prayers were said and sung in Latin during the requiem mass.
US was on the front VIP row near , and . Francis had clashed with Trump several times over — and made a thinly veiled jibe yesterday.
He spoke of Francis’s visit to the US-Mexico frontier where he urged true Christians to “build bridges, not walls”; in a dig at Trump’s proposed border barrier.
Cardinal Re said: “His gestures and exhortations in favour of refugees and displaced persons are countless. His insistence on working on behalf of the poor was constant.”;
Francis’s dream of expanding his flock was reflected in the huge diversity of mourners, including Arabs and Africans in traditional garb and one VIP in a Native American-style headdress.
In another break from tradition, then became the first pope in more than 100 years to be buried outside the Vatican.
He wanted an interment “close to the ground”; in a tomb at the Basilica of St Mary Major four miles away.
Huge crowds lined the route to the church, the first place Francis prayed after his recent five-week stay in hospital when he was taken there in a white 500.
Yesterday, his coffin was carried in his glass-topped Popemobile, passing banks of cheering crowds.
In another major departure, an invited group of poor and needy faithful gathered on the steps of the Mary Major church to say farewell.
They were the last to salute the pontiff before his coffin was carried into the church for a private burial.
Earlier, mourners hailed Francis’s humble nature, as they gathered before dawn to celebrate him, many coming from around the world.
Elizabeth Brannon, 47, who flew 1,400 miles from Aylesbury, Bucks, said: “This is amazing for me. It’s about my faith and it’s the least I could do to be here.”;
She was joined by brother Robert Layzell, 51, and sister Rebecca Lee, 41, who had come from .
Elizabeth also held up a sign reading “Hello Mum”;.
She said: “My 87-year-old mum couldn’t be here as she’s broken two ribs and has a concussion so I’m here to represent her. Although emotional, the mood is not sombre. It’s a celebration of his life and that’s how he wanted to be remembered.
Pope Francis was fantastic. It’s so humbling how he wanted everything simple today. We could all learn a lesson from him
Elizabeth Brannon, from Aylesbury, Bucks
“Pope Francis was fantastic. It’s so humbling how he wanted everything simple today. We could all learn a lesson from him.”;
Robert added: “Being buried in a more deprived area allows everyone to celebrate his life.”;
As his coffin was carried into the square, one woman sank to her knees and sobbed: “Mi Papi.”;
Italian security gave out bottles of water in the balmy 22C heat as hymns played from the speakers.
When was taken away, a silence descended. Some had their heads in their hands while others were deep in prayer.
Catherine Richards, 28, who came from Launceston, Cornwall on Friday, shed a tear.
She said: “I’m feeling very emotional. It was so special. He was a pope for the people and you could see that in the crowd as all walks of life came together.”;
And one homeless local said in broken English: “We are all welcome here.”;
Student Madison Gifford, 20, from , said she was sitting next to two Germans who had come to pay respects straight from a club.
I’m feeling very emotional. It was so special. He was a pope for the people and you could see that in the crowd as all walks of life came together
Catherine Richards from Launceston, Cornwall
She said: “Non-Catholics came from a night out clubbing. Everyone is welcome and that’s exactly what this day is supposed to be about.
“They kept repeating, ‘This is so cool, it’s once in a lifetime’.”;
Priest Nicolas Schwartz, from , added: “What was so special was how simple it all was.
“When the coffin was taken out it was incredibly emotional and was such an amazing moment for me.”;
Georgia Clarke, 28, a youth minister at St Elizabeth of Portugal Church, in Richmond, , attended with young parish volunteers.
She said: “There’s a mixture of joy and sadness — because we’re not going to hear him anymore, we’re not going to see his smile and we’re not going to hear him joke, which he did frequently.”;
One teenager added: “He was an extraordinary and kind man and we hope his legacy for love and peace will survive.”;
