Ceremony begins with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re addressing the gathered crowds
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will be leading the day’s service.
He began by performing the Penitential Act, a way for the faithful to confess their sins.
The dean has now moved on to the Liturgy of the word, a series of Bible readings including from the Acts of the Apostles and the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
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Coffin carried to St Peter’s Square as ceremony officially begins
Fourteen pallbearers moved the simple coffin through St Peter’s Basilica into St Peter’s Square for the start of the ceremony.
The funeral mass begins with the entrance antiphon, a series of psalm verses or scripture passages which are traditionally sung or read aloud.
AP
Volodymyr Zelensky meets applause as he enters St Peter’s Square
The Ukrainian Prime Minister was greeted by some applause from the gathered crowds as he walked into the square ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral.
Zelensky followed Donald Trump into the square where dignitaries shook hands with each other and members of the assembled clergy before taking their seats for the start of the service.
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Pictured: Keir Starmer and wife Victoria walk ahead of funeral mass as service is about to start
UK PM Keir Starmer and wife Victoria Starmer walking ahead of the funeral mass at Pope Francis’ service in the Vatican
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Pictured: President Macron has moment inside St Peter’s Basilica to pay respects to Pope’s coffin
French PM Emmanuel Macron is allowed inside St Peter’s Basilica to pay his respects to the late Pope Francis’ coffin
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Pictured: Clergy, Cardinals and crowds take their seats ahead of service to begin shortly
Clergy take their seats for the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (Markus Schreiber/AP)
AP
Cardinals sit in their seats ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (Markus Schreiber/AP)
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People gather for the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (Andreea Alexandru/AP)
AP
Donald Trump and wife Melania pictured inside St Peter’s Basilica paying respects to the Pope’s coffin
Sky News
Pictured: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrives at the Vatican ahead of Pope’s funeral
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni walks into St Peter’s Square for the funeral service of the late Pope
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Pictured: President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, walks ahead of the funeral mass of Pope Francis
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the funeral for Pope Francis today
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How world leaders will be seated at Pope Francis’s funeral
The elaborate seating plan for Pope Francis’s funeral, which will host 170 world leaders, has been characterised by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, as a “master plan” in stage-managing “big egos”.
Official delegations will be positioned in a designated section to the right of the altar atop the steps leading to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Given priority in the seating arrangements will be Francis’s native Argentina, followed by Italy, reflecting the pope’s role as both bishop of Rome and leader of the country’s Catholic bishops.
Following these countries, royalty such as Prince William will be organised “in alphabetical order, but in French language”, in keeping with diplomatic tradition.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Friday that no distinction would be made between Catholic and non-Catholic monarchs in determining the seating order.
After royalty will come heads of state, and then heads of government including the UK prime minister and current US President Donald Trump – who may be disappointed to find himself not in the front row.
