In Pictures: World leaders join faithful as Pope Francis is laid to rest

Presidents, prime ministers and cardinals gathered alongside members of the public in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

The coffin of Pope Francis is carried into St Peter’s Square for his funeral (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Huge crowds descended upon Vatican City on Saturday to bid a final farewell to a religious leader dubbed the “people’s pope”.

Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on Easter Monday, has been hailed for his 13-year leadership of the Catholic Church.

Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re prays in front of the coffin (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

A view of St Peter's Square during the funeral of Pope Francis — A view of St Peter’s Square during the funeral of Pope Francis (Alessandra Tarantino/AP

The Vatican said around 200,000 people attended the funeral mass which took place under clear blue skies.

The coffin of Pope Francis is laid in St Peter’s Square (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Cardinals standing during the funeral — Cardinals stand during the funeral (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

The coffin of Pope Francis lies in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (Markus Schreiber/AP)

US President Donald Trump joined UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Prince of Wales and a host of other world leaders and dignitaries including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for the open-air funeral mass in St Peter’s Square.

Mourners listen to the funeral mass, part of an estimated congregation of 200,000 (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Cardinals awaiting the start of the funeral for Pope Francis — Cardinals await the start of the funeral for Pope Francis (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Some 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government and 12 reigning monarchs joined mourners for the open-air service in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky, front second left, French President Emmanuel Macron, front centre, and US President Donald Trump, seventh right, during the funeral (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re blessing the coffin — Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re blesses the coffin (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

A nun holds a photo of Pope Francis while attending his funeral (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

Following the funeral, Francis’s remains were taken by motorcade through the streets of Rome as crowds lined the streets.

The Vatican confirmed in a video on Saturday afternoon that Pope Francis had been buried in a simple underground tomb at a private ceremony at St Mary Major basilica in the centre of Rome.

The coffin of Pope Francis passes the Colosseum in Rome en route to St Mary Major Basilica (Bernat Armangue/AP)

The head of the papal household Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza puts a seal on the coffin containing the body of Pope Francis during the burial ceremony in St Mary Major Basilica in Rome (Vatican Media via AP)