Francis, the first Latin American pope, now lies in his final resting place

Pope Francis was buried Saturday in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, the Holy See announced, the first burial of a pope outside the Vatican since Leo XIII in 1903.

The burial took place at 1:30 p.m. local time during an intimate ceremony presided over by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, in the presence of relatives of the Argentine Jesuit, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis' coffin arrived aboard the popemobile at his final resting place, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where the first american pontiff will be buried this Saturday following several days of crowded farewells.

His burial — the first of a pope outside the Vatican walls since Leo XIII in 1903 — will mark the end of a 12-year pontificate.

U.S. President Donald Trump left Rome at noon on Saturday after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenski on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, AFP reports.

Pope Francis' coffin departed the Vatican on Saturday for his final journey aboard the popemobile, en route to his burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. 

The partially open-top white vehicle will travel for about 30 minutes through the streets of the Eternal City, passing iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum before reaching the pontiff’s final resting place.

The Vatican announced Saturday that around 200,000 people are following the funeral of Pope Francis in and around St. Peter’s Square, surpassing the figure initially reported by Italian authorities. 

The funeral began Saturday in St. Peter's Square, with tens of thousands of mourners and world leaders in attendance, including Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, paid his respects at the funeral chapel for Pope Francis.

The funeral for Pope Francis began Saturday at the Vatican, five days after his death at the age of 88, drawing thousands of mourners and international leaders to St. Peter’s Square. 

The crowd greeted the arrival of the coffin of the first american pope with applause and cheers."