Pope Francis funeral: Pontiff's coffin taken to final resting place in major break from tradition

Pope is laid to rest in private ceremony as final prayers are recited

WATCH NOW: Pope Francis' coffin driven through Rome as he embarks on final journey

Pope Francis' coffin was driven through central Rome as he embarked on his final journey to Santa Maria Maggiore.

GB News reporter Georgina Cutler was reporting live from Rome as mourners paid their respects.

PICTURED: Pope Francis' coffin transported into Santa Maria Maggiore

Pope Francis' coffin has been taken into Santa Maria Maggiore - his final resting place.

He will be buried during a private ceremony.

Pope Francis' funeral breaks tradition in four major ways as centuries-old practices shunned

Pope Francis's funeral has broken from tradition in four major ways in a reflection of his position as "the people's Pope".

Following a number of days on display at St Peter's Basilica for public viewing, a funeral mass in St Peter's Square to honour the pontiff was attended by leaders from across the world.

However, viewers of the event and those in attendance may not know that the pontiff's funeral is unusual in many aspects.

READ THE FULL STORY BEHIND THE BREAK FROM TRADITION HERE

The coffin reaches its final destination as Popemobile arrives at Santa Maria Maggiore

The Pope's coffin is being taken to His Holiness' final resting place

GB News' own Georgina Cutler is on the ground in Rome as the Pope is being taken to his final resting place in Rome.

WATCH NOW: Pope Francis' coffin is carried away from mass ahead of final journey

Pope Francis' coffin has been carried away from the funeral mass in Vatican City, ahead of his final journey to his burial via the Popemobile.

Around 200,000 mourners gathered in St Peter's Square to pay their respects to the late pontiff.

WATCH HERE

Pontiff's coffin is being carried by the Popemobile to Francis' final resting place

Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer speak with Trump and Zelensky after crunch meeting

Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer have been photographed speaking with the US and Ukrainian Presidents after their crunch meeting in Rome this morning.

The leaders are due to have a follow-up meeting later on today.

PICTURED: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky meet ahead of Pope's funeral

Ukrainian officials have released images from Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting this morning in Rome.

"The Presidents met at St Peter's Basilica, and the meeting lasted about 15 minutes," Zelensky's team has announced.

"The leaders agreed to continue negotiations today. Teams are working on organising the follow-up meeting."

Final commendation and farewell

As the funeral comes to a close, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is reading out the final commendation and farewell.

He said: "Dear brothers and sisters, let us commend to God's tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, bishop of the Catholic.

"Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection."

The Pontiff's coffin will be sprinkled with holy water then carried into the Popemobile which will then take Pope Francis' body to his final resting place in the crypt at Santa Maria Maggiore.

WATCH: Argentinian President Javier Milei overcome with emotion at Pope Francis funeral

Argentinian President Javier Milei appeared overcome with emotion as he attended the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter's Square in Vatican City.

Milei was among leaders from more than 150 countries who took their places for the papal funeral.

WATCH HERE

WATCH: President Volodymyr Zelensky met with applause as he arrives for Pope Francis funeral

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was met with applause as he arrived at St Peter's Square to pay his respects to Pope Francis at a funeral in Vatican City.

Zelensky was among leaders from more than 150 countries who took their places for the papal funeral.

Other dignitaries included Biden's former political rival US President Donald Trump who clashed with Francis on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

PICTURED: Aerial view of St Peter's Square during Pope Francis' funeral Mass

Faithful wipe away tears as they mourn the late pontiff

The bread has been broken in front of the mourners 

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has broken bread in front of the the mourners who have flocked to St Peter's Square.

As is custom, he took the chalice of wine and raised it.

In doing so, the Cardinal has turned the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

The Life of Pope Francis

Liturgy of the Eucharist commences

The Liturgy of the Eucharist has commenced, a part of the Catholic Mass where the Faithful celebrate the Last Supper.

Cardinal concludes Homily

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said: "May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven 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."

Cardinal tells attendees Pope's mission was conviction that 'the Church is a home for all' with 'its doors always open'

The Italian Cardinal has continued delivering the Homily, telling attendees that the Pope was driven by the conviction that the Catholic Church was a "home for all" with "its doors always open".

"The guiding thread of his mission was the conviction that the church is a home for all," he said.

"A home with its doors always open."

He added that the Pope Francis "reached people's hearts in a direct and immediate way".

MAPPED: Pope's Funeral route from his death to burial

Pope's death 'touched minds and hearts' of people, cardinal says

The abundance of love and affection for Pope Francis shows the extend to which the late pontiff "touched the minds and hearts of people".

"Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life," he added.

He "was a Pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone", the cardinal told the Faithful.

Nuns pray as mourners attend the funeral Mass of the late pontiff in Rome

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivers Homily for 'chief shepherd'

Delivering the Homily, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said: "For the late Pope Francis, that the chief shepherd, who eternally lives to intercede for us, may welcome him into his kingdom of light and peace.

"Let us pray to the Lord.

"Lord, hear our prayer."

Liturgy of the Word is heard as thousands of funeral-goers mourn

Readings from the Old and New Testament are being read out.

Kielce Gussie is reading out the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles in English.

Sea of Cardinals during funeral as around 160,000 congregate in St Peter's Square

Funeral-goers mourn as they attend the Mass for Pope Francis

Service begins as choirs sing the entrance antiphon

Pontiff's coffin carried into St Peter's Square

The coffin of the late Pope Francis is being carried into St Peter's Square where thousands of mourners have gathered to celebrate the life of the Head of the Catholic Church.

Zelensky met with applause as he enter St Peter's Square

PICTURED: Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy attend His Holiness' funeral

PICTURED: Argentina President Javier Milei at Pope Francis funeral

Bells toll in St Peter's Square to signal start of service

Prince William arrives in Rome to honour life of late pontiff

PICTURED: Joe Biden arrives at Pope's funeral

Pope Francis' Funeral: Order of service

Entrance antiphon

• The Penitential Act
• Collect - opening prayer

The Liturgy of the Word

• First reading - from the Acts of the Apostles
• Responsorial Psalm
• Acclamation before the Gospel
• Gospel
• Homily

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Offertory Chant
• Prayer over the offerings
• Eucharistic Prayer III

The Communion Rite

• Communion Antiphon
• Prayer after Communion

Final commendation and farewell

WATCH: Funeral-goers flocking to St Peter's Square

Funeral-goers have flocked to St Peter's Square ahead of the Pope's funeral this morning.

EXCLUSIVE: Princess Charlene to 'steer clear of bold jewels' as she sits in front of Prince William at funeral

Princess Charlene is set to "steer clear of bold jewels" as she sits in front of Prince William at Pope Francis's funeral today, a jewellery expert has exclusively told GB News.

The Princess of Monaco will join her husband, Prince Albert, at the funeral of the pontiff in St Peter's Basilica in Rome this morning, which will be attended by 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.

As the Monegasque royals are Catholic, they will be seated on the front row, alongside King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein.

In contrast, the non-Catholic royals, including Prince William, will be seated on the second row.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

PICTURED: Street leading to St Peter's Square HEAVING with mourners

Cardinal in 'race to succeed Pope Francis' takes brutal swipe at Britain

A cardinal who could be in the race to succeed Pope Francis has seemingly taken a brutal swipe at Britain in a surprise encounter with an Irish journalist.

Richard Chambers, who hosts Virgin News Media’s The Group Chat podcast, revealed he met a Portuguese-born cardinal in the heart of the Holy See before the conversation turned to the Emerald Isle.

In a clip titled 'Did Richard randomly meet the next Pope?', Chambers recounted: “He asked me where I was from.

“I said, obviously, I was from Ireland. He was like, ‘Oh, is it God Save the King Ireland, or is it St Patrick Ireland?’

“I think he was saying in jest,” he said. “He was clearly joking.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Pope Francis's death sparks rare vacuum in Christianity not seen for more than 300 years

Pope Francis's death has sparked a vacuum at the highest levels of Christianity which has not been seen for more than three centuries.

The pontiff died aged 88 on Easter Monday, leaving the papal throne empty for the first time since 2013.

And with Justin Welby having resigned his post as Archbishop of Canterbury in January, his role sits vacant too.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

The four ways Pope Francis's funeral breaks tradition

Pope Francis's funeral is set to break from Vatican tradition in four major ways today.

Shunning the pomp and privilege usually associated with the papacy during his reign, His Holiness's last rites will carry on his wish for simplicity.

Whereas Pope John Paul II's funeral in 2005 lasted three hours, the service on today is set to take just 90 minutes.

The late pontiff also opted to forego a centuries-old practice of burying popes in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. Instead, he has been placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, which was sealed closed overnight.

And in a further break with tradition, he will be the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century, preferring Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major, some 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from St. Peter's, as his final resting place.

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump land in Rome to attend Pope Francis's funeral

US President Donald Trump has landed in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

He touched down with his wife, Melania Trump, on AirForce One this morning to join more than 150 dignitaries from across the world.

Also attending today will be the Presidents of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, Poland and Ukraine, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many European royals.

PICTURED: Mourners queuing through night to attend Pope Francis's funeral

PICTURED: Mourners queuing through night to attend Pope Francis's funeral