04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Cardinal Re emphasized Francis’ ‘bridges, not walls’ message as Trump was in attendance
Earlier in the day, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re mentioned Pope Francis’ emphasis on “bridges, not walls” during the homily.
“Build bridges, not walls was an exhortation he repeated many times,” Re said.
Re said this as was in attendance.
During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, he called for the US to build a wall with Mexico as a means to curb migration.
That year, Francis appeared to suggest that Trump was “not Christian.”
“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian,” Francis told journalists in 2016, seemingly in reference in Trump. In response, Trump said it was “disgraceful” for a religious leader to question his beliefs.
After Francis’ death, Trump described the pope as a “good man” who “loved the world.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4tczT
Skip next section Pope Francis to be buried in final resting place — more to follow04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Pope Francis to be buried in final resting place — more to follow
Pope Francis’ coffin has been transported to his final resting place, the church of St. Mary Major, where he will be buried in private.
Our next editors and writers will be covering the latest news to get you up to speed with information on the late pope’s funeral ceremonies and what happens next.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tczU
Skip next section IN PICTURES: Tens of thousands watch pope’s last journey
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
IN PICTURES: Tens of thousands watch pope’s last journey
Large crowds thronged the streets of Rome to catch a last glimpse of Pope Francis’ coffin as it made its way to St. Mary Major Basilica, his final resting place.
The pope’s simple wooden coffin was visible to locals and tourists alike along the 6-kilometer (3.5-mile) route from atop a modified popemobile.
The crowd, which was tens of thousands strong, clapped and cheered “Papa Francesco.”
At one point, church bells rang out as the popemobile emerged from a tunnel and crossed the Tiber River, flanked by police on motorcycles.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcwK
Skip next section Zelenskyy recalls ‘good meeting’ with Trump in Vatican City
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Zelenskyy recalls ‘good meeting’ with Trump in Vatican City
said he had a “good meeting” with US President Donald Trump at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The two leaders were both attending the funeral of Pope Francis.
“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,” Zelenskyy posted on X, while expressing gratitude to Trump.
Ukrainian media earlier reported that the meeting was 15 minutes long.
The had described the meeting as “very productive.”
The Trump administration is seeking a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Trump earlier this week accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war but also for carrying a deadly attack in Kyiv.
Trump has suggested that his administration may move on from Ukraine if no progress on a ceasefire is made in the near future.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tctr
Skip next section Pope Francis’ coffin arrives at final resting place 04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Pope Francis’ coffin arrives at final resting place
Pope Francis’ coffin has arrived at St. Mary Major Basilica, where he will be buried. The coffin was escorted by Swiss guards.
Francis’ coffin had been transported from the on the popemobile to , where the basilica is located.
The basilica is in the Rome neighborhood of Esquilino, which has a high population of people from Africa and Asia. Francis often emphasized his compassion for refugees and immigrants during his time as pope.
Francis is the first pope to choose to be buried outside of the Vatican in over a century.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcqg
Skip next section How were leaders seated at Francis’ funeral? Trump given front-row seat
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
How were leaders seated at Francis’ funeral? Trump given front-row seat
US President and First Lady Melania Trump were given front row seats during funeral Mass at St Peter’s Square.
Vatican rules for important events arrange seats for foreign dignitaries in groups according to seniority and in alphabetical order, according to their country’s name in French, the global diplomatic language.
Reigning monarchs are normally seated first, followed by heads of state, heads of government, other royals and then ministers and other dignitaries.
Trump received a front row seat because the US is called Etats-Unis d’Amerique in French.
Meanwhile, Argentinian President Javier Milei, where Francis was born, got the best view of the proceedings, along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was representing the country that surrounds the Vatican City state.
The seating plan would likely have been a challenge for Vatican officials as former US President Joe Biden, whom Trump has fiercely criticized, was also in attendance, along with ministers from foes Iran, Russia and the heads of several countries that Trump has hit with unprecedented tariffs.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcop
Skip next section Pope Francis’ funeral service ends as popemobile heads into Rome
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Pope Francis’ funeral service ends as popemobile heads into Rome
The funeral service for Pope Francis has now ended.
The pope’s coffin is now departing the Vatican on a white popemobile.
The coffin is now en route to his burial place in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcjX
Skip next section Francis’ coffin returns to Basilica after open-air funeral
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Francis’ coffin returns to Basilica after open-air funeral
coffin has been taken back into St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of his funeral mass at the Vatican.
Pallbearers carried the simple wooden casket back into the basilica almost two hours after it was brought out for the open-air service in St. Peter’s Square.
From there, it will be moved to the popemobile to make its way across to Francis’ burial place in St. Mary Major Basilica.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tciz
Skip next section Modi: The world will ‘always remember’ Francis’s service
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Modi: The world will ‘always remember’ Francis’s service
endorsed a post on X from President of India Droupadi Murmu, who paid homage to Francis at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City on Friday.
Modi wrote that India’s president was paying homage to “Pope Francis on behalf of the people of India.”
“The world will always remember his service to society,” Modi said, referring to Francis.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tciy
Skip next section IN PICTURES: World leaders gather for Francis’ funeral service
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
IN PICTURES: World leaders gather for Francis’ funeral service
DW Instagram pulls together some pictures from this morning at St. Peter’s Square, where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re led the service to honor the life of Pope Francis.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcj0
Skip next section Francis’ funeral offers message of hope in multiple languages
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Francis’ funeral offers message of hope in multiple languages
funeral is a carefully choreographed affair, with Latin chants, strictly organised seating, and use of ancient rites.
The Mass is being conducted in multiple languages, including Latin, the Church’s official language, along with Italian, English, French, Portuguese, Polish, German, Chinese, and Arabic.
Several lay Catholic followers have taken part in the readings asking for peace, justice, and unity across the world.
The prayer givers have come from all over the world as a symbol that the Church isn’t just European — it’s global and diverse.
Francis made arrangements for a far simpler funeral when he revised and simplified the Vatican’s traditions last year.
He has foregone the customary triple-layered papal coffins and the papal crown and will be laid to rest later in a simple wooden casket, symbolizing his Jesuit vow of poverty and commitment to humility.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcas
Skip next section When will cardinals choose a next pope?
04/26/2025April 26, 2025
When will cardinals choose a next pope?
After the service for Pope Francis on Saturday, the Catholic Church will begin deliberations on a future leader.
A secretive conclave to choose Francis’ successor will likely not convene until May 6.
The next pope will not just be a symbol of the church around the world, but will also influence the ideological direction of the religious institution.
The candidates to succeed Pope Francis come from , Asia and other parts of the world. Some of them emphasize Pope Francis’ message of social justice, while others tend to have more conservative and traditionalist views.
Read DW’s piece on
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcap
Skip next section What to know if you’re joining us now04/26/2025April 26, 2025
What to know if you’re joining us now
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a homily to remember and honor the life of .
Re’s message to the world covered some of the late pope’s cherished themes, ranging from a call for care for migrants, an end to wars and action on global climate change.
The dean of the College of Cardinals (the body eligible to vote for the next pope) delivered his speech a few yards away from where US President Donald Trump and other world dignitaries, including , sat for the ceremony.
Prince William was seated next to Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the open-air Mass that saw nearly 200,000 people in attendance. Germany’s presumptive next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, was not present at the event.
The funeral marks the first of nine days of official Vatican mourning for Francis, who took over following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.
After the mourning period, cardinals will gather for the conclave to elect a new pope to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcYx
Skip next section In politics, Trump and Zelenskyy hold ‘productive discussion’ before Francis’ funeral service04/26/2025April 26, 2025
In politics, Trump and Zelenskyy hold ‘productive discussion’ before Francis’ funeral service
US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a “very productive discussion” ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral Mass in their first in-person meeting since a , the White House says.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the two leaders “met privately today and had a very productive discussion” and that more details would follow.
Their talks comes as the US under Trump’s leadership has put forward a to put an end to
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcWQ
Skip next section Homily: Francis implored peace amid conflicts around the world 04/26/2025April 26, 2025
Homily: Francis implored peace amid conflicts around the world
During the homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re noted that urged peace and called for negotiations amid conflicts around the world.
“Faced with the raging wars of recent years, with their inhuman horrors and countless deaths and destruction, Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice imploring peace and called for reason and honest negotiation to find possible solutions.”
Re also said Francis believed the Church is a “home for all.”
Francis was driven by “the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with the doors always open…. a Church capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or conditions, and healing their wounds.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4tcTF
The post Pope Francis’ coffin brought to final resting place appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
