The honor of delivering the first reading at Pope Francis’ funeral Mass on Saturday fell to Kielce Gussie, an American who works as a reporter with Vatican News. It was, she said on social media, “a great way to say goodbye” to the pontiff.

An estimated 400,000 people lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter's Square for the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City, marking the culmination of days of mourning. World leaders and dignitaries from across the globe were among those in attendance.

Pope Francis was mourned at his funeral Saturday as a humble pastor to those on the global margins. But a who’s who of the world’s most powerful heads of state and royalty gathered to pay