WORLD leaders have gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis as huge crowds descended upon Vatican City.
The Catholic faithful are bidding a final farewell to a religious leader dubbed the “people’s pope”, whose death sparked tributes from across the globe.
The 88-year-old, who died on Easter Monday, has been hailed for his leadership of the Church, proving popular among young people and known for his outreach to those most in need in society.
Swinney said he will “express the respect of the people of Scotland” while attending the funeral, adding that it was important for Scotland to be represented in Rome.
The First Minister shared an image of where he was seated in St Peter's Square, writing on Twitter/X: "Such a privilege to represent Scotland at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis".
Such a privilege to represent Scotland at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis. 🏴 🇻🇦 pic.twitter.com/wqLyRCt3q3
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) April 26, 2025
Trump and his wife, first lady Melania, arrived at St Peter’s Square and the couple stopped in front of the Pope’s coffin to pay their respects.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to receive a round of applause as he stepped out of St Peter’s Basilica.
The coffin of Pope Francis was then brought out from St Peter’s Basilica into St Peter’s Square.
Crowds had gathered in the nearby streets before 5am, with nuns, priests and lay people alike making their way towards St Peter’s Square.
A tight security presence saw roads in the vicinity closed as Italian police managed the huge numbers keen to get as close as they could to the square.
A group of young women from Scotland told how they travelled to Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral to “celebrate a great leader”.
Claire, Erin and Maria – from Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow – spoke to the BBC as crowds gathered for the funeral.
Claire said: “We were able to come here, we wanted to come here.
“Although it’s a sad day for the Catholic Church, it’s a day where we can celebrate a great leader, so we want to be part of it.”
Erin said: “Although it’s sad, it’s great to be able to celebrate how great a pope he was.”
She added: “As a young person, I think he really spoke to the youth.”
Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, which ran overnight from Wednesday due to high demand.
The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter’s Basilica, before the coffin was closed in private on Friday evening.
Thereafter, leaders are seated “in alphabetical order” in French – considered the language of diplomacy.
Following the open-air funeral in the square, Francis’s remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions.
During the journey, crowds will have their chance to catch a glimpse of a pontiff who proved popular with many during his 12-year papacy.
While Saturday is the first of nine official days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin soon after the funeral.
Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis’s successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5.
The sign of a new pope having been elected will be the emergence of white smoke from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel while, soon after, an announcement in Latin of “Habemus Papam” – meaning “we have a pope” – is made alongside the chosen pontiff’s appearance on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
