Pope Francis’ Coffin Moved Back To Basilica After Funeral Mass [Photos]

Pope Francis’s coffin was returned to St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday after his funeral mass at the Vatican.

Pallbearers carried the simple wooden casket back inside nearly two hours after it had been brought out for the service.

The funeral drew hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

Many people spent the night outside just to secure a spot in the square, and the Vatican reported that around 250,000 people attended the funeral to honor the Argentine pope, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church.

More than 50 heads of state were also present. Before the mass began, Trump met with several world leaders inside the basilica, including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky — their first meeting since a tense encounter in the Oval Office back in February.

The crowd broke into applause when the pope’s coffin was carried out by pallbearers wearing white gloves, followed by more than 200 cardinals dressed in red. They clapped again when the casket was taken back inside at the end of the service.

During the funeral homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re described Francis as “a pope among the people, with an open heart,” who worked to create a more welcoming and compassionate Church.

Under clear blue skies, the crowds once again applauded as the cardinal praised Francis’s belief that the Church should always be “a home with its doors open to everyone.”

Throughout his 12 years as pope, Francis worked to lead the Church in a more inclusive direction. His passing has triggered an outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world.

See some photos below:

KanyiDaily recalls that President Bola Tinubu sent a five-member team to represent Nigeria at Pope Francis’ funeral.