Over 250,000 Mourn Pope Francis at Vatican Funeral

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at the Vatican over three days to pay their respects to Pope Francis, with an estimated 250,000 people attending public viewings before his coffin was closed ahead of the funeral. The event has drawn world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underlining Francis's global influence and legacy of compassion, humility, and advocacy for the marginalized. Security around St. Peter’s Square was heightened, with measures such as drone bans and increased checkpoints. Pope Francis, remembered for championing the vulnerable and issuing a final appeal against contempt for migrants, died at 88 after a period of declining health. The funeral is expected to be the largest Vatican gathering since Pope John Paul II's, with over 200,000 attendees anticipated. Tributes from leaders like Macron highlighted Francis's deep commitment to supporting the vulnerable during hardship and conflict.