Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff and a champion of the poor.

Some mourners camped overnight to secure a place at the ceremony, which is being attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, and numerous royals and cardinals.

The Argentine pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88, led the Church for 12 years, pushing for inclusivity and compassion in an institution long resistant to change.

Over 250,000 people visited his coffin during three days of lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica. By Friday morning, crowds had already gathered for his final farewell.

“He was not just a pope; he embodied what it means to be human,” said Andrea Ugalde, 39, who travelled from Los Angeles for the ceremony.

The funeral mass was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT), with an estimated 200,000 attendees. Italian and Vatican authorities launched a major security operation, including a no-fly zone, fighter jet patrols, and rooftop snipers.

“We spent the night in the car with our children,” said Peruvian Gabriela Lazo, 41. “We deeply mourn the loss of our South American pope.”

The funeral marks the start of nine days of official Vatican mourning before cardinals convene to elect a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Though beloved globally for his humility and advocacy for social justice, Francis faced opposition from conservative factions and some world leaders, particularly over his views on migration and climate change.

President Trump, who had clashed with Francis during his first term, paid tribute late Friday, calling him “a good man who loved the world.” Trump is using the trip to meet dozens of leaders on the sidelines, although a potential meeting with Zelensky remains unconfirmed.

Other dignitaries at the funeral include former US President Joe Biden, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Argentina’s Javier Milei, and Britain’s Prince William.

Israel, displeased with Francis’s criticism over Gaza, sent only its Holy See ambassador, while China, which has no formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican, sent no representative.