Pope Francis was laid to rest in a private burial at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Saturday after a funeral Mass attended by a multitude of mourners, including some 50 heads of state, 10 reigning monarchs and a legion of faithful. Read our blog and watch FRANCE 24's special edition to see how the day's events unfolded.
After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.”
During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome to participate in a conclave to elect the next pope.
To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the “sede vacante” — a Latin term meaning the seat is vacant — is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.
The cardinals will vote in secret sessions, and the ballots will be burned in a special stove after each session.
Black smoke will indicate that no pope has been elected, while white smoke will indicate that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church.
This blog is no longer being updated
Thank you for following FRANCE 24's special coverage of the pope's funeral.
We will continue to provide coverage from the Vatican as the attention turns to the election of a successor for Pope Francis.
Meanwhile, you can watch a replay of the full funeral ceremony and procession by clicking on the video below.
Pope Francis was buried at Saint Mary Major basilica in Rome on Saturday after a funeral Mass at the Vatican attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders including US President Donald Trump.
Francis, who died Monday aged 88, was remembered as a “pope among the people” who sought to “build bridges, not walls” in a funeral homily at St. Peter’s Square.
An estimated 400,000 people packed the square and lined the streets of Rome to say goodbye to the Argentinian pontiff, a champion of the poor who had led the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since 2013.
Trump held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart on the sidelines of the funeral, which Volodymyr Zelensky described as positive, with “potential to become historic”.
What happens next?
The papal funeral marks the first of nine days of mourning for Catholics across the world.
Another Mass of mourning will be held in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. That will be led by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is often viewed as a leading papal contender.
In coming days, the Vatican will announce the date for the start of the conclave that will choose Francis' successor. This secret meeting of cardinals is unlikely to be before May 5 or 6.
In pictures: Rite of burial before Pope Francis is laid to rest
Vatican Media handouts showing the rite of the burial of the coffin of Pope Francis at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.
Credit: Vatican Media handout via AFP
Credit: Vatican Media handout via AFP
Buenos Aires Mass to honour first Argentinian pope
Pope Francis has been laid to rest in Roman basilica
Pope Francis has been laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Vatican officials say.
Francis was buried beneath a simple headstone made of marble from Liguria, the Italian region of his mother's family, engraved with his name in Latin: Franciscus.
The tomb is placed in a niche next to the chapel where the Salus Populi Romani icon that the pope revered is located.
'Deep embarassment' in Israel over failure to send a delegation to pope's funeral
Retired Israeli diplomats have said the failure to send an Israeli delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome "puts a mark of shame" on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, says FRANCE 24's Jerusalem correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky.
In contrast, Gaza's small Christian community has used heartfelt words to lament the passing of a champion of their cause.
At least 400,000 people at Vatican, streets of Rome for farewell to pope
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi says at least 400,000 people lined the streets of Rome and packed St. Peter's Square to attend the pope's funeral Mass and procession.
His figure is in line with the combined tally earlier announced by Vatican officials.
Trump-Zelensky follow-up meeting did not happen, Ukraine says
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky did not have a second meeting in Rome after their encounter in the Vatican, a spokesman for Zelensky said.
Earlier, the spokesman said the leaders agreed when they met to have a follow-up meeting in Rome, and that aides to the two leaders were working on arrangements.
However, the spokesman said it did not come about, citing the two presidents' tight schedules. Trump has now flown out of Rome.
Rome police hails 'smooth and efficient' organisation
Roberto Massucci, the head of Rome's police force, has congratulated his teams for ensuring that "everything went very smoothly and efficiently", with no major incident reported so far.
"The balance is one of great satisfaction and at the same time concentration because we have to face the days to come," Massucci added.
Italy and the Vatican rolled out a massive security plan to police the event, with royals, presidents and hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful flocking to Rome.
Fighter jets were on stand-by and special police sniper units were deployed on the rooftops of buildings along the Via della Conciliazione, the vast avenue leading to St. Peter's Square.
The funeral procession in pictures
FRANCE 24's special programme now over, coverage continues on this blog
Our televised special edition on the funeral of Pope Francis is now over, but stay with this blog for continued live coverage of events in Rome.
French presidency latest to speak of 'positive meeting' with Trump, Zelensky
The French presidency says Macron had a “positive meeting” with his US and Ukrainian counterparts, as well as Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Rome.
FRANCE 24’s Ukraine’s correspondent Gulliver Cragg brings us the latest on the diplomatic flurry of activity on the sidelines of the pope’s funeral.
Replay: Full coverage of Pope Francis's funeral in Rome
Vatican says 150,000 people lined streets of Rome to see pope's coffin
Around 150,000 people lined the streets of Rome on Saturday to watch as the pope's coffin was driven past on its way to his final resting place, the Vatican said.
That's on top of the quarter of a million who crammed into St. Peter's Square and adjacent streets to follow the funeral Mass.
Zelensky says discussed 'unconditional ceasefire' in Trump talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post that he discussed a possible unconditional ceasfire with Russia at a meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the pope's funeral.
"We discussed a lot one on one. 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. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results," Zelensky wrote on X.
Pope's passing 'leaves a void for Rome, Italy and all of Christianity'
Doors close as pope's burial continues in private
The pallbearers have now gone inside a section of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, away from public view.
Credit: Carlos Barria, Reuters
While the burial will be a private service, visitors will be allowed from Sunday to visit the tomb, inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus.
Trump boards Air Force One after funeral Mass, Zelensky talks
US President Donald Trump has already left Rome after attending the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he also held private talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to the pool travelling with the president.
