Pope Francis, Leader of the World’s Catholics, Laid to Rest in Rome Church
Tawazon – Pope Francis, the head of the world’s Catholics, was laid to rest today (Saturday) in a church in Rome, in the presence of thousands of mourners.
According to Vatican News, around 250,000 people visited over the past three days to pay their respects to the late Pope.
The funeral ceremony was attended by prominent leaders and officials, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, and representatives from Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, and several other countries.
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Vatican City.
Throughout his life, he had spoken several times about the situation in Afghanistan, urging the international community to work collaboratively to eliminate violence in the country.
In response to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which led to a surge in refugee displacement, Pope Francis called on the international community to accept Afghan refugees and provide necessary support, particularly to women and children, the most vulnerable groups.
Pope Francis was widely recognized as a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue. He made significant efforts to promote peace between Muslims and Christians.
Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, described Pope Francis as a symbol of sincerity, tolerance, and interreligious harmony. Together, they signed the historic Document on Human Fraternity.
The current United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, along with many other world leaders, praised Pope Francis as a staunch defender of peace, human dignity, justice, and social unity.