The first pictures of Pope Francis' tomb have been released following his funeral at the Vatican. A white rose was seen lying on the stone tomb, which bears the name he was known by as pope, underneath a lit crucifix.

Francis, who died at the age of 88, was buried inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. It followed a public funeral at St Peter’s Square attended by world leaders and tens of thousands of mourners. The basilica, one of Rome’s oldest, was a place Francis often visited during his time as cardinal and later as pope. He had requested to be buried there, inspired by his devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Santa Maria Maggiore sits outside the Vatican walls, close to the Colosseum and Termini Station.

It is rare for a pope to be buried outside the Vatican, and Francis is the first to do so since Pope Leo XIII in 1903.

After the service, a long queue of mourners formed outside the church to pay their respects.

The burial was held in private following the funeral procession through the streets of Rome.

During the funeral Mass, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praised Francis as a leader who "built bridges, not walls."

The service was attended by US President Donald Trump, Prince William, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and many other dignitaries.

Before the coffin was sealed, a special note was placed inside describing Francis as a "simple and much-loved shepherd."

It also said he "remained in the heart of the Church and of humanity" and praised his humility and service to others.

The note ended with the words: "Francis has left everyone a wonderful testimony of humanity, a life of a saint and universal fatherhood."

Pope Francis chose a simple zinc-lined coffin engraved with his name, papal coat of arms, and the dates of his service from 2013 to 2025.

Unlike many of his predecessors, he did not opt for the traditional triple-coffin burial.

Authorities said around 140,000 people lined the streets for the funeral procession.