The Procession to Santa Maria Maggiore
For the final interment, the coffin traveled through St. Peter’s Square in a flower-adorned vehicle. Onlookers observed moments of silent prayer and, in some cases, small diplomatic exchanges along the route.

It was during this procession—captured by countless cameras—that many observers noted behaviors they considered at odds with the funeral’s sacred solemnity.
4. Photography and Phone-Use Controversies
A Brazilian Priest’s Selfie
Earlier in the week, images circulated of a Brazilian priest who approached the open catafalque in St. Peter’s Basilica and snapped a selfie with Pope Francis’s body in the background. The act prompted an official Vatican appeal. A spokesperson told The Times:
“Visitors are invited not to take photos. This is a moment of prayer and respect.”
Despite the request, many pilgrims ignored the warning, using smartphones to record the display.

Snapping Photos during the Mass
During the funeral Mass itself, cameras captured multiple attendees—clergy and lay alike—raising phones to photograph the pope’s gilded coffin as it proceeded past the high altar.