The funeral of Pope Francis began in the presence of world leaders

The funeral of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader, began in the presence of world leaders and tens of thousands of mourners. Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with police reporting some 150,000 people in the square and surrounding streets even before proceedings began. 

After waiting in somber silence, the crowd in St Peter's Square began clapping as the pontiff's coffin was brought out in solemn procession shortly after 10:00 AM local time. Francis sought to steer the centuries-old Church into a more inclusive direction during his 12-year papacy, and his death prompted a global outpouring of emotion. 

More than 50 heads of state attended the funeral to pay their respects at the coffin of the Argentine pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88.