Around 150,000 people lined the streets of Rome on Saturday to watch Pope Francis’ coffin on its way to his final resting place, the Vatican reported.

The funeral of the pontiff, who died Monday at age 88, was held in St. Peter’s Square, but he was buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. This marks the first time a pope has been buried outside the Vatican walls since Leo XIII in 1903.

The partially open white popemobile traveled through the Eternal City, passing iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums, as thousands of people bid farewell. "I am Catholic, but not practicing, and for the first time I felt represented by Pope Francis, beyond him being Argentine, because of everything he did," said Diego Borigen, a 33-year-old IT specialist from Argentina, to AFP.

The day began with the funeral ceremony attended by thousands of people and world dignitaries, including Donald Trump. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re highlighted Francis' "countless" efforts to defend migrants, refugees, and the marginalized, as well as his fight for peace amid conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war.

Weeks before his death, Pope Francis had harshly criticized U.S. migrant expulsion policies, yet Trump praised him as a "fantastic" man who "loved the world." During the funeral, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a conversation at St. Peter's Basilica, their first meeting since their tense encounter in Washington in February.

Popular fervor led many faithful to arrive early in the morning to secure a good spot. "He was not just the pope; he was the definition of what it means to be human," said Andrea Ugalde, a visitor from Los Angeles. Among the crowd was also Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, accompanied by his family.

In the three days leading up to the funeral, 250,000 people had paid tribute during the lying-in-state. Dozens of presidents, monarchs, and prime ministers traveled to Italy to bid farewell to Francis, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

In his native Argentina, vigils were organized to follow the funeral despite the time difference. Outside Buenos Aires Cathedral, young people gathered with candles and songs. "The event serves to honor the pope’s legacy and transform the sadness of his passing into a beacon of hope," said 25-year-old social worker Iara Amado to AFP.

For the coffin’s transfer, the Italian government imposed a no-fly zone over Rome and deployed anti-drone units, rooftop snipers, and combat aircraft on standby. Nevertheless, the pope's tomb will reflect his image of simplicity: it will be made of Italian marble and simply bear the inscription "Franciscus."

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, elected pope in 2013, chose his papal name in homage to Saint Francis of Assisi. His simple style, defense of the poor, fight against clerical sexual abuse, and push for a greater role for women and laity marked his legacy, although he also faced conservative resistance within the Church.

With his death, the process to elect his successor is now underway. The conclave to choose the next pope must be convened between 15 and 20 days after his death, though it could happen sooner.

With information from AFP