Ruth Sherlock

St. Peter's Square is surrounded by these semi-circles of colonnades with statues of Catholic saints all around. And that threw open to this bright blue sky, and many people in the crowd told me they felt as though Pope Francis might be looking down on this event from above.

Well, of course, there were crowds of people outside this church that were so dear to Francis. You know, this basilica is home to an icon, a painting of Mother Mary and baby Jesus that Francis would pray to before and after every trip out of Rome. And one of the priorities of his papacy was Francis' care for the poor and the disadvantaged.

Well, of course, there were crowds of people outside this church that were so dear to Francis. You know, this basilica is home to an icon, a painting of Mother Mary and baby Jesus that Francis would pray to before and after every trip out of Rome. And one of the priorities of his papacy was Francis' care for the poor and the disadvantaged.

Well, of course, there were crowds of people outside this church that were so dear to Francis. You know, this basilica is home to an icon, a painting of Mother Mary and baby Jesus that Francis would pray to before and after every trip out of Rome. And one of the priorities of his papacy was Francis' care for the poor and the disadvantaged.

And he was known, for example, to slip out of the Vatican to visit homeless shelters nearby there. And this was also the final focus of this funeral, too. a group of people from disadvantaged backgrounds were invited to be by the entrance of St Mary Major. People without homes, migrants, prisoners, victims of war.

And he was known, for example, to slip out of the Vatican to visit homeless shelters nearby there. And this was also the final focus of this funeral, too. a group of people from disadvantaged backgrounds were invited to be by the entrance of St Mary Major. People without homes, migrants, prisoners, victims of war.

And he was known, for example, to slip out of the Vatican to visit homeless shelters nearby there. And this was also the final focus of this funeral, too. a group of people from disadvantaged backgrounds were invited to be by the entrance of St Mary Major. People without homes, migrants, prisoners, victims of war.

It was a fitting end that these people should be the final people to say goodbye to this Pope.

It was a fitting end that these people should be the final people to say goodbye to this Pope.

It was a fitting end that these people should be the final people to say goodbye to this Pope.

Well, people are waiting in their long, snaking line around the Vatican. Some are holding umbrellas to shield from the sun as they wait to pay their final respects to Pope Francis as he lies in state. I spoke with Margarita Harvey from El Salvador, who has been waiting since a little after dawn, and she says it was always her dream to see the Pope.

Well, people are waiting in their long, snaking line around the Vatican. Some are holding umbrellas to shield from the sun as they wait to pay their final respects to Pope Francis as he lies in state. I spoke with Margarita Harvey from El Salvador, who has been waiting since a little after dawn, and she says it was always her dream to see the Pope.

Well, people are waiting in their long, snaking line around the Vatican. Some are holding umbrellas to shield from the sun as they wait to pay their final respects to Pope Francis as he lies in state. I spoke with Margarita Harvey from El Salvador, who has been waiting since a little after dawn, and she says it was always her dream to see the Pope.

Francis is lying in a single wooden casket rather than the three nested coffins that's been traditional of previous pope burials. And the coffin at St. Peter's Basilica is facing the church pews at ground level, not raised up. And this is typical of his papacy, of trying to keep a little of the ordinary even in this very extraordinary job.

Francis is lying in a single wooden casket rather than the three nested coffins that's been traditional of previous pope burials. And the coffin at St. Peter's Basilica is facing the church pews at ground level, not raised up. And this is typical of his papacy, of trying to keep a little of the ordinary even in this very extraordinary job.

Francis is lying in a single wooden casket rather than the three nested coffins that's been traditional of previous pope burials. And the coffin at St. Peter's Basilica is facing the church pews at ground level, not raised up. And this is typical of his papacy, of trying to keep a little of the ordinary even in this very extraordinary job.

Francis liked people, and you can see that in how he moved through the crowds in this very square this past Easter Sunday, just the day before he died. He was in his potent mobile without the bulletproof glass, hugging members of the public. The Vatican now says Francis was so weak that he'd actually worried about whether he could manage this.

Francis liked people, and you can see that in how he moved through the crowds in this very square this past Easter Sunday, just the day before he died. He was in his potent mobile without the bulletproof glass, hugging members of the public. The Vatican now says Francis was so weak that he'd actually worried about whether he could manage this.

Francis liked people, and you can see that in how he moved through the crowds in this very square this past Easter Sunday, just the day before he died. He was in his potent mobile without the bulletproof glass, hugging members of the public. The Vatican now says Francis was so weak that he'd actually worried about whether he could manage this.

But afterwards, he reportedly told his personal health care assistant, thank you for bringing me back to the square.