HIGHLIGHTS: Pope Francis’ funeral

Pope Francis has been laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, the Vatican said.

The burial was held in private after the funeral, which saw over 400,000 people in attendance.

US president Donald Trump left Rome on Saturday after attending the funeral of Pope Francis, where he earlier held a brief meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, an AFP reporter said.

Their face-to-face meeting in St Peter's Basilica was their first encounter since a disastrous White House clash, as the US president pushes the Ukrainian leader to agree a peace deal with Russia. 

Francis' casket has arrived at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome where he will be buried.

Pallbearers are bringing his wooden coffin into the basilica.

Francis is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.

St. Mary Major in Rome was dear to the pope because of his devotion to Mary. He would pray in the basilica before and after an overseas trip.

Pope Francis’ coffin has crossed the River Tiber, carried by the slow, steady procession through the heart of Rome.

The Tiber is the third-longest river in Italy.

Thousands of mourners are lined up along the side of the streets as they captured the journey with their gadgets.

More than 250,000 people assembled at St Peter's Square for the funeral of Pope Francis, the Vatican said Saturday. 

"The competent authority informs us that, while the funeral of Pope Francis has ended, more than 250,000 people are present," said the Vatican in a brief statement Saturday at the end of the ceremony.

Pope Francis is now on his way to his final resting place at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Mourners have gathered along the route, many taking pictures and videos as the vehicle slowly moves forward.

His coffin rests in a simple popemobile, reflecting Francis' value for simplicity.

The mass for Pope Francis' funeral has ended, and as the closing hymn was sung, the crowd gave a round of applause.

The cardinals are now returning inside the basilica as pallbearers lift the Pope's coffin.

During the invocation of the names of dozens of Catholic saints, the crowd changed the line of the chant for Pope Francis.

Instead of chanting "Pray for us," they instead sang "Pray for him."

Holy Communion has now commenced at Pope Francis' funeral Mass.

The service was attended by some 250,000 people, including members of the clergy as well as government leaders from various parts of the world.

Despite the vast crowd, the priests will try to distribute Holy Communion as widely as possible among the congregation.

After Cardinal Re said the Universal Prayer or the Prayer of the Faithful, cardinals delivered prayers in different languages, Italian, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, German, and—for the first time—Mandarin.

“For us gathered here, that having celebrated the sacred mysteries, we may one day be called by Christ to enter his glorious kingdom,” Cardinal Agostino Liu Bo said.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re recalled at the end of his Homily how Pope Francis would end his speeches and meetings by saying, "Do not forget to pray for me."

"Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope."

The Vatican released the order of service for Pope Francis' funeral.

The booklet is 87 pages long and includes the service in different languages of English, Italian, and Latin.

Read it here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has met U.S. President Donald Trump in the Italian capital, where both leaders were attending the funeral of Pope Francis, a spokesman for Zelenskiy said.

No details were provided of the meeting, but it comes at a critical time in negotiations aimed at bringing an end to fighting between Ukraine and Russia.

Trump, who has been pressing both sides to agree a ceasefire, said on Friday that there had been productive talks between his envoy and the Russian leadership, and called for a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow to close a deal.

Trump had previously warned both sides his administration would walk away from its efforts to achieve a peace if the two sides do not agree a deal soon.

The meeting in Rome is the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskiy since an Oval Office meeting in February that turned into a shouting match.

Following that meeting, the United States cut off intelligence cooperation with Ukraine, which is critical to its efforts to stave off Russian attacks, though this was later restored.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the Homily for Pope Francis' funeral Mass, from the Gospel according to John.

He began by expressing his gratitude to the world leaders who took the time to pay their respects for the late pontiff.

"The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts," Re said, according to a translation from ABC News.

"Pope Francis chose to follow the path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life. He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, loved his shape to the point of giving his life for them, and he did so with strength and serenity, close to his flock, the Church of God, mindful of the words of Jesus," he continued.

He highlighted how Francis "maintained his temperament and form of pastoral leadership" and that he was "eager to be close to everyone."

"Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of this time of globalization. He gave of himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people's hearts in a direct and immediate way," Re said.

"Francis always places the Gospel of mercy at the center, repeatedly emphasizing that God never tires of forgiving us. He always forgives whatever the situation might be of the person who asks for forgiveness and returns to the right path," he continued.

According to Re, Francis, who famously refused to judge gay or divorced Catholics, believed the Church "is a home for all".

He was driven by "the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open... a Church capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds", he said.

He further praised Pope Francis's efforts to help refugees, migrants and poor people.

"His gestures and exhortations in favour of refugees and displaced persons are countless," Re said in front of thousands of guests, including US President Donald Trump, with whom Francis had clashed over the treatment of migrants. (with reports from Agence France-Presse)

The Gospel according to John is read, in which Jesus tells Peter to "feed and tend to his sheep."

Before this, Edgar Pineda read Paul's letter to the Philippians.

The First Reading for the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis has now begun.

The passage came from the book of Acts of the Apostles. It was read by American journalist Kielce Guisse.

This was followed by Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd," for the Responsorial Psalm.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle could be seen marching behind Pope Francis' coffin as he is being led out to St. Peter's Square for his funeral Mass.

He is one of the possible successors to become the 267th pontiff.

Pope Francis's coffin has now been brought to St. Peter's Square.

As the pallbearers carried the casket, the the audience applauded the late pope.

Cardinals and bishops have also moved out to the square for the ceremony.

An open book of the gospels has been laid on the coffin.

Britain's Prince William arrives for Pope Francis' funeral at St. Peter's Square.

He is representing head of state King Charles III.

Hungary's president Tamas Sulyok, his wife Zsuzsanna Nagy, Prime Minister Vikot Orban, and his wife Anikó Lévai are also among world leaders paying their respects.

Pope Francis' funeral has now begun as his coffin is being carried towards St. Peter's Square.

The coffin passed underneath the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica where he first appeared to the world after he was elected.

A Gospel was put on top of his casket.

The funeral Mass will be presided by over by Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals.

Former United States president Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden have arrived at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral.

Current US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are also among the world leaders in attendance.

World leaders have arrived at St. Peter's Basilica for the funeral mass for Pope Francis on Saturday. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have paid their respects to the late Pope.

A Latin prayer of Ave Maria, gratia plena, is also being heard ahead of the funeral mass at 4 p.m. to be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Some people waited overnight to be first in the queue for the ceremony, which will be attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky as well as royals and red-robed cardinals from across the globe.

The Argentine pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88, sought to steer the centuries-old Church into a more inclusive direction during his 12-year papacy.

Some 250,000 people paid their respects before his coffin during its three days of lying in state at St Peter's Basilica, and huge numbers gathered from dawn on Friday to attend his final send-off.

"He was not just the pope, he was what the definition of being human is," said Andrea Ugalde, 39, who flew from Los Angeles to attend Saturday's mass. 

The ceremony is due to begin at 4 p.m. (Philippine time) and is expected to draw some 200,000 people.

Italian and Vatican authorities have mounted a major security operation for the ceremony, with more than 50 heads of state on the guest list.

A no-fly zone is in place, fighter jets are on standby and snipers will be positioned on roofs surrounding the tiny city state.

"We spent the whole night here in the car with the children," said Peruvian Gabriela Lazo, 41. 

World leaders will be in Rome for Pope Francis's funeral, in one of the largest diplomatic gatherings of recent times.

Among those included in the long list are Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his First Lady, Liza Marcos. Marcos declared a national mourning period over the Pope’s death until April 26. 

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Britain's Prince William, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, will also be at the event. 

Argentina’s president Javier Milei, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, will be at the funeral with his wife. 

Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prime Minister Bart De Wever will attend. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also be in attendance. 

Here is the official programme of the ceremonies (in Philippine time) for the late pontiff who died on Monday aged 88: 

11:30 a.m.: St Peter's Square opens. 

3:30 p.m.: US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive in St Peter's Square.

4:00 p.m.: The funeral mass begins. It will be presided over by Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. Francis's wooden and zinc coffin, sealed on Friday evening, will be placed in front of the basilica before a temporary raised altar. To its left, facing St Peter's, will sit the red-robed cardinals. To the right, official delegations from around the world, seated in alphabetical order. The ceremony should last about 90 minutes, with 224 cardinals and 750 priests and bishops in attendance. 

It will feature, in chronological order:  

-- Reading of liturgical texts

-- A homily by Cardinal Re

-- A universal prayer in several languages

-- The consecration of the bread and wine

-- Participants exchanging a sign of peace or handshake 

-- The Eucharist

-- A moment of silence 

-- The sprinkling of holy water on the coffin

At the end of the mass, the coffin will be brought inside St Peter's Basilica.

About 5:30 p.m.: The coffin leaves for Santa Maria Maggiore, the Rome basilica where Francis will be buried. It will not be possible for mourners to follow the funeral procession but members of the public will be able to watch it pass by from behind metal barriers set along the route. The hearse will cover about four kilometres (2.5 miles) driving at a slow pace through the streets of Rome. 

The key points along the route are:

-- Porta del Perugino (a western gate out of the Vatican City)

-- Crossing the River Tiber 

-- Corso Vittorio Emanuele 

-- Piazza Venezia 

-- Via dei Fori Imperiali

-- Colosseum

-- Via Labicana 

-- Via Merulana 

About 7:00 p.m.: The coffin arrives at Santa Maria Maggiore, where it will be welcomed by a group of the "poor and needy".

The burial, presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as camerlengo is running the Vatican's day-to-day affairs until a new pope is elected, will take place in private.