POPE MOURNED

THE “final image” of Pope Francis will be him greeting crowds on Easter Sunday despite “serious health problems”, the 200,000 people who gathered for his funeral in Vatican City were told yesterday.

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Presidents, prime ministers and cardinals were among those bidding a final farewell to a religious leader described as “a pope among the people”, whose death sparked tributes from across the globe.

The 88-year-old, who died on Easter Monday, has been hailed for his leadership of the Church, proving popular among young people and known for his outreach to those most in need in society.

Addressing those gathered in St Peter's Square yesterday morning, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said: “The final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory, in our eyes and our hearts is that of last Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite his serious health problems, wanted to give us his blessings from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

“He then came down to this square to greet from his open pope-mobile the large crowd gathered for the Easter mass.”

Cardinal Re also said the Pope “incessantly raised his voice” for peace and urged people to “build bridges not walls.

US President Donald Trump joined UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and a host of other world leaders and dignitaries for the open-air funeral mass in St Peter’s Square.

Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to receive a round of applause as he stepped out of St Peter's Basilica.

The Vatican said 200,000 people attended the funeral.

Others who attended include the Prince of Wales, who attended on behalf of the King.