Sri Lanka, April 26 -- Pope Francis has been laid to rest in Rome, concluding the solemn, hours-long funeral rites held at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

This marked the end of his 12-year leadership of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, a period often marked by significant change.

The Argentinian pontiff, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 88 following a stroke and cardiac arrest, was interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Italian capital today (26).

Under clear skies, tens of thousands of mourners filled St. Peter's Square for the ceremony, officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, with many arriving in the early hours to secure a place.

Unprecedented security measures were implemented around the Vatic...