Even the day before death Pope urged end to Gaza war

Western secular leaders and religious patriarchsand prelates attended Pope Francis' globally televised Vatican state funeral in Rome on Saturday.

- Michael Jansen

He would have preferred a quiet blessing as he was entombed at the 4th century Basilica de Santi Maria Maggiore where seven other popes have been laid to rest rather than at St. Peter's.

Pomp and circumstance did not suit Pope Francis, the first to assume the name of 12-13th century St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his mission to the poor, love of animals, and advocacy of the environment.

Although born, raised, and ordained as priest and bishop in Argentina, he was an Italian Pope, steeped in the culture of the country his parents left to escape Benito Mussolini's Fascism. Francis was the first Jesuit Pope. In 2016, he was the first Pope to meet at the Vatican with Cairo's Al-Azhar's Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, who heads the world’s leading institution of Sunni learning.

This encounter ushered in deepening cooperation between the two men who sought to repair relations between the world's 1.4 billion Catholics and 2 billion Muslims. In 2017, Pope Francis attended the international peace conference held in Cairo by al-Azhar and subsequently signed a document on human fraternity.