Devotees pay their respects at Pope Francis’ tomb

Devotees on Sunday visited the tomb of Pope Francis at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major, which is now open to the public following his funeral Mass and burial.

In Vicky Morales’ Sunday report on “24 Oras Weekend,” the Novembiales or nine days of mourning and prayer for Pope Francis continues.

Pope Francis' coffin was greeted with applause and singing as it was carried out of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

It was placed on a special altar in St. Peter’s Square and was prayed over and blessed.

The funeral Mass was presided over by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of College of Cardinals.

During his homily, Re called for the pope’s legacy to live on, such as the care for migrants, the downtrodden, and nature.

Echoing Pope Francis, Re also called for peace in areas in conflict.

The Vatican estimated that over 250,000 devotees attended the ceremony.

After the funeral Mass, Pope Francis' coffin was returned to St. Peter’s Basilica and taken out through another door to be carried by a white Popemobile, which underwent a kilometer-long procession in Rome.

Thousands of devotees applauded as they witnessed the pope’s coffin during the procession.

Pope Francis’ coffin was brought to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which he chose to be his resting place. A group of the poor welcomed him with white roses.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber or the caretaker of the Papal household, led the private burial attended by the cardinals and clergy.

Farrell put a seal on Pope Francis’ coffin, and the Swiss Guard saluted.

Among the clergy who attended that funeral Mass was Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News