A solemn farewell is unfolding in Vatican City as thousands have gathered to honor Pope Francis, remembered for his devotion to the marginalized and his transformative vision for the Catholic Church. Silence filled the moment before the ceremony began. Applause echoed across St. Peter's Square as the pope’s casket emerged from the great basilica in a dignified procession just after 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET). The funeral Mass is being conducted on the basilica’s grand steps, a sacred