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A note placed in Pope Francis’s coffin before his funeral pays tribute to his courage, his love of the poor and his “dialogue with Muslims and representatives of other religions”.
It refers to the 266th pope as “the beloved Shepherd of the Church”.
World leaders attended the funeral in front of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, where hundreds of thousands of spectators and mourners gathered.
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The service, led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, followed a private Vatican ceremony on Friday night to seal the coffin after three days of public viewings by 250,000 people.
A white silk cloth was placed over the Pope’s face and his body was sprinkled with holy water.
In line with tradition, a bag of coins and medals minted during his papacy, as well as a "Rogito" – or deed – summarising his life were also placed inside the coffin.
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The deed, a type of obituary written in Latin and sealed inside a metal cylinder, says he “left to all a marvellous witness of humanity, of holy living, and of universal fatherhood” and that the “entire Christian Community, especially the poor, praised God” for his work.
When he was a cardinal in his native Argentina, he was “a simple and much-beloved pastor in his Archdiocese”, it says.
Francis, who died on Easter Monday, aged 88, will be buried in the Basilica of St Mary Major after a procession through the streets of Rome following the requiem mass service.
In his homily, Cardinal Re paid tribute to Pope Francis’ work for those in poverty or affected by war.
He said the examples of his work to help refugees and the displaced were countless.
"War, he said, results in the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone," Battista said.
The deed says Francis “exercised the Petrine ministry with untiring dedication in favour of dialogue with Muslims and representatives of other religions, sometimes inviting them to prayer meetings and signing joint declarations for concord among the faithful of different creeds”.
It highlights how he visited prisons and reception centres for the disabled and drug addicts.
Before Pope Francis’ funeral mass began, diplomacy between world leaders was taking place on the sidelines.
US President Donald Trump had a "very productive discussion" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the funeral, a White House official said.
English (US) ·