From BBC

Summary

• Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica following his funeral in the Vatican
• Pope Francis “touched minds and hearts” and wanted to “build bridges, not walls”, said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral service
• Dozens of leaders and dignitaries – including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William – joined an estimated 400,000 mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter’s Square itself
• Trump and Zelensky met inside St Peter’s Basilica before the funeral – Zelensky says the meeting “has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”
• The Ukrainians also released a picture of Trump and Zelensky in conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron

1. Trump hits out at Putin after meeting Zelenskypublished at 08:5808:58IMAGE SOURCE, EPAImage caption, US President Trump and his wife Melania attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City earlier todayIn the past few moments, Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social, saying “there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas” after 12 people were killed by Russian strikes in Kyiv earlier this week.The US president adds: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?'”Before the Pope’s funeral, Trump briefly met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican – the details of what was discussed remain unclear. Earlier, Zelensky said the meeting “has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.ShareVatican says Pope’s coffin entombed in private burialpublished at 08:3708:37BREAKINGIn a statement, the Vatican says Pope Francis’ coffin has been entombed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome. “The Pope is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and his entombment was a private event, allowing for those closest to him to pay their respects,” the statement adds.SharePope Francis is buriedpublished at 08:1608:16BREAKINGThe Vatican has just confirmed that Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, which sits outside the Vatican walls in the centre of Rome.IMAGE SOURCE, VATICAN MEDIAIMAGE SOURCE, VATICAN MEDIAShareAt least 400,000 people turn out for Pope’s funeral – Italian officialspublished at 08:0408:04BREAKINGIMAGE SOURCE, EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCKAt least 400,000 people gathered in Vatican City for Pope Francis’ funeral and lined the streets to watch his coffin being taken to the Santa Maria Maggiore church for burial, according to Italy’s interior minister.”We estimate not fewer than 400,000 people between those present in St Peter’s Square and those along the route,” Matteo Piantedosi tells Italian news programme TG5.ShareZelensky meets Starmer again and talks of sensitive questionspublished at 08:0008:00Paul Kirby
   Europe digital editorIMAGE SOURCE, ANDRII SYBIHA/XZelensky’s round of diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral has continued with a chat with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Earlier, the UK prime minister was seen standing with Zelensky, Donald Trump and France’s Emmanuel Macron inside St Peter’s Basilica – minutes before the Pope’s funeral was about to start.Trump and Zelensky were filmed by White House staffer Dan Scavino walking together towards some chairs, escorted by Vatican officials. Macron briefly joined them before the pair sat down.After Trump’s team headed straight for the airport, Zelensky then met Macron and Starmer again – separately. As he walked with Starmer, he was asked by a Ukrainian reporter how the talks with Trump had gone.”Really we had a productive meeting. I don’t want to go into a lot of details if it’s possible because [they are] very sensitive questions on, of course, totally on how to bring peace closer,” he said.They had also discussed recent meetings involving European and Ukrainian officials in Paris and London: “And we want to continue such meetings to bring peace to Ukraine.”ShareAfrican Catholics celebrate a Pope who was an ‘amazing leader’published at 07:4907:49Waihiga Mwaura
   Reporting from RomeDumi Sifuno from Johannesburg, South Africa, and her two friends had planned a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee Year – a major event in the Catholic calendar that began on 24 December 2024 and continues until 6 January 2026.This unfortunately coincided with the passing of Pope Francis. The pair of friends now tell me their time in Rome has been a time of celebration mixed with mourning.“God has been good by giving the Church an amazing leader at a time when he was really needed.” They tell me they believe the conclave will choose the right leader to take the Church forward. African Catholics have been quietly rooting for an African pope, bearing in mind the Church on the African continent has seen dynamic growth. But analysts say the probability of an African pope being chosen at this time remains slim. Share’For me, we have lost a great man’published at 07:2907:29Rosanna Pound-Woods
   Reporting from RomeWatching the funeral from St Peter’s Square earlier was Sister Beatrice (pictured right). “For me, the loss of Pope Francis is a great loss,” she told BBC News.”In him I saw a holy man who saw the lonely and the needy. He is a man of peace and he accepts everybody no matter their race, language or where you come from.”For me we have lost a great man. I prayed [that] who we choose as the next pope takes up the legacy he has laid for the church.”ShareTrump leaves Rome – but Zelensky’s meetings continuepublished at 07:1707:17Paul Kirby
   Europe digital editorIMAGE SOURCE, ANDRII SYBIHA/XZelensky has just spoken of a “very symbolic meeting” with Trump at Pope Francis’ funeral that has the “potential to become historic”. The White House has so far spoken only of a “very productive” meeting on the sidelines of the funeral, as the US pushes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.There had been talk of a possible second meeting but that was quashed as soon as it emerged a substantial motorcade had left St Peter’s for the airport. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin for three hours only yesterday and he made the point that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were a particular focus.Meanwhile, Zelensky’s round of diplomatic talks in Rome isn’t yet over. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, has posted a picture of Zelensky sitting with France’s Emmanuel Macron under a parasol at a garden table.Sybiha describes it as a “tête-à-tête about further peace efforts”.Zelensky is also due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before he heads home.SharePowerful symbolism for Starmer – and Europepublished at 07:0507:05Jack Fenwick
   Political reporterIMAGE SOURCE, UKRAINE’S PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICEToday is clearly not a day primarily for politics. But with so many leaders gathered in one place, it’s difficult not to reflect on the wider issues facing the world.The image of Sir Keir Starmer standing alongside President Zelensky, President Trump and President Macron is a reminder of the war that rages in Ukraine, some 1,500 miles from the Vatican. And it’s a reminder, too, of the role the UK is still playing in the tense diplomacy surrounding Russia’s invasion.The symbolism is clear: the leaders of the UK and France helping to bring together the leaders of Ukraine and the US for the first time since the dramatic Oval Office fallout.This week, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled a trip to London to discuss the latest on potential peace talks. That could easily be seen as something of a sidelining for Starmer and Macron.Yesterday, President Trump said Russia and Ukraine “are very close to a deal”. The UK, France and Germany seem to have been largely left out of those talks, too.But UK government figures have downplayed that idea. Starmer is still pushing for a so-called “coalition of the willing” – which would see European troops help enforce any peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.The prime minister will hope today’s image of the four leaders is seen as a piece of powerful symbolism that western Europe – including the UK – still very much matters on the world stage.ShareThousands flood the streets of Rome to catch a glimpse of Popemobilepublished at 07:0007:00IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERSAbout 150,000 people lined the streets of Rome to watch as the Pope’s coffin was carried in a procession to his final resting place, the Vatican reports.That’s slightly less than the number of people who gathered in St Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets for the actual funeral mass. The Vatican says for that ceremony, there were 250,000 mourners in the area. ShareWhat happens next?published at 06:5106:51IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESThe Pope’s burial ceremony, which is being led by cardinal chamberlain Kevin Joseph Farrell, is expected to end at 14:00 local time (13:00 BST).Following that, many foreign leaders will leave Rome (some already have) while pilgrims and mourners remain.Today marks the beginning of a nine-day mourning period called Novemdiales, with a mass held every day in memory of Francis.Mourning aside, the Catholic world’s attention will soon turn to the conclave – the ritual selection of Francis’ successor where eligible cardinals gather in Vatican City to vote in secret.The cardinals haven’t confirmed a date yet, but the conclave typically takes place between 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death. That would indicate a date after 6 May is likely.
   • From secret votes to white smoke – how is the next pope chosen?
   ShareFuneral crowds disperse in search of lunchpublished at 06:4206:42Rosanna Pound-Woods
   Reporting from RomeIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESMeanwhile, on the streets outside St Peter’s Square, tens of thousands of pilgrims are continuing to stream out after the end of the public portion of Pope Francis’ funeral.It’s warm today in Rome, with a maximum temperature of 23C (73F) forecast by mid-afternoon. For many, the priority is now shade and some lunch.On the steps of the Chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia, groups take a moment of respite as they sit and eat sandwiches and catch their breath. Some have been in St Peter’s Square since before dawn.Inside, Catholics from all over the world gather to pray and light candles in Pope Francis’ memory. Families sit alongside nuns and priests. The atmosphere is calm away from the chaos of the streets outside.ShareZelensky says Trump meeting has ‘potential to become historic’published at 06:2606:26BREAKINGWe’ve just had the first comments from President Zelensky after his meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier.He says the “very symbolic meeting” has the “potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.“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.”He ends his post on X by thanking the US president.IMAGE SOURCE, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICEShareTrump boards Air Force Onepublished at 06:1906:19BREAKINGDonald Trump’s Air Force One flight has just left Rome, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24.Below is an image of the US president waving as he boards the aircraft at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome.IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESShareThe doors close as Pope’s burial ceremony continues in privatepublished at 06:1806:18We’ve just seen the last images of the Pope’s coffin before it’s buried.The pallbearers have now gone inside a section of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore away from public view for a private ceremony.One of Francis’ requests before his death was that he be laid to rest in a simple tomb in the ground bearing only the inscription “Franciscus”, the Latin version of his chosen name.ShareProcession gathers inside basilica as Pope’s coffin receivedpublished at 06:1206:12The coffin of Pope Francis has just been taken inside of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome.This will be the late Pope’s final resting place. A short, private service will take place here (it won’t be televised), but we are getting some images of people gathering inside the church.The Vatican announced earlier that people will be able to visit Francis’ tomb from Sunday morning.ShareFirst pope not to be buried at the Vatican in 100 yearspublished at 06:0406:04IMAGE SOURCE, EPAAs we’ve been reporting, Francis’ body will be buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.He is the first pope since Leo XIII, who died in 1903, to be buried outside the Vatican.Every time Francis returned to Rome after a trip abroad, he always visited Santa Maria Maggiore.It’s a fitting choice – Francis was especially devoted to the Virgin Mary, and Santa Maria Maggiore was the first church dedicated to her when it was built in the 4th Century.00:38Media caption, The adapted vehicle heads through the streets to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.ShareIn pictures: The journey through Rome – from the Vatican via the Colosseumpublished at 06:0206:02Now that the Pope’s coffin has arrived at his final resting place, we can bring you pictures that show the Popemobile’s journey through the Italian capital.IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, The procession left Vatican City and followed a 6km (3.75 miles) route over the Tiber RiverIMAGE SOURCE, EPAImage caption, Pope Francis’ coffin travelled along the back of on adapted ‘Popemobile’IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, The public have only been allowed to follow the journey from behind barriers on the streets, rather than directly behind the processionIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, The Popemobile travelled through central Rome to Piazza Venezia, passing the ColosseumShareCoffin arrives at Pope’s final resting placepublished at 05:5905:59We’re now seeing the Popemobile carrying the Pope’s coffin arriving at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.Pallbearers are lifting the coffin from the vehicle to be taken inside.You can follow this moment by pressing watch live above.IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERSSharePeople from around the world gather outside Pope’s final resting placepublished at 05:5705:57Daniel Wittenberg
   Reporting from Santa Maria Maggiore BasilicaBack here at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, there’s a sense of spiritual reflection and quiet anticipation.People are watching the funeral on large screens while they wait for the late Pope’s arrival at his final resting place.Crowds are growing on both sides of the basilica. Security on the surrounding streets has tightened dramatically over the past couple of hours. Above it all, a large banner is draped from an apartment block, reading simply: “Grazie Francesco” – ‘Thank you, Francis’ in Italian. The crowd reflects some of his legacy. It’s notably young, with Christian youth groups from around Italy which are here as part of a teenage celebration of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year.Diversity in the square is noticeable too. A man in a keffiyeh stands near a Palestinian flag. People in colourful West African dress mingle with others wrapped in Argentinian flags, paying tribute to the first Latin American pope and the first from the southern hemisphere.The Argentine Embassy stands just opposite the square – a reminder of where Francis’ journey began, beside where it will soon finish.

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