GB News presenter Ellie Costello was left "overwhelmed" by the "beautiful and solemn" funeral of Pope Francis, as hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Vatican City for the ceremony.
Around 200,000 mourners have gathered at the Vatican to bid farewell to the 266th pontiff, with around 150 world leaders - including US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
In keeping with Francis's life as a breaker of tradition, many of the more elaborate and expensive rituals customary for the burial of popes have been foregone in favour of simpler options.
A series of readings and prayers were read before the 50,000 faithful gathered before the basilica.
Ellie Costello told GB News she was 'overwhelmed' by the funeral service for Pope Francis
GB News / Reuters
Discussing the atmosphere of the ceremony as she reports live from Vatican City, Ellie told GB News: "It's truly overwhelming.
"The sounds right now of the Sistine Chapel choir just ringing out across Saint Peter's Square, I can't even put into words how beautiful, solemn, and poignant this moment is.
"It is the most incredible sight and the reverence in the crowd is so striking."
Highlighting the precise level of organisation that has gone into carrying out a funeral of this scale, Ellie explained: "I wanted to touch on the level of organisation as well that we are witnessing in front of us right now.
"I can see the priests receiving communion, 4,000 of them in Saint Peter's Square for this funeral, and many of them will then go on to give out communion to the crowds that are here, 750 bishops in purple and 220 cardinals."
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Thousands gathered for the funeral for the late pontiff in the Vatican City
Reuters
Reporting on the temperature the thousands of mourners are facing in the Vatican during the funeral, Ellie claimed that although it is "soaring in temperature", the crowds remain "focused" on the service for the late pontiff.
Ellie said: "It's hot here today. It's 20C already this morning, and there are pilgrims down in Saint Peter's Square now fanning themselves. There's now a sea of umbrellas where the temperatures are obviously starting to soar now.
"And they could be forgiven, perhaps, for being distracted from the Requiem Mass that is taking place, considering it is in Latin and it is a long service, but that is not the case. They are all facing forwards, they are focused, they are reflecting on the words that have been said by Cardinal Rey and the beautiful sounds of the Sistine Chapel choir."
Marking again the "beautiful" funeral service for Pope Francis, Ellie reflected on the "celebration of his life" and the "wonderful message" he left behind.
Ellie told GB News that the sounds of the service were 'beautiful' and 'solemn'
GB News
Ellie concluded: "It truly is just the most beautiful atmosphere here. And as you were touching upon earlier, a celebration as well as obviously marking the very sad passing of Pope Francis. It's a celebration of his memory and everything that he stood for.
"Cardinal Ray concluded his sermon by talking about Pope Francis and his message to people, which was, do not forget to pray for me. It's what he always said to people when he was leaving them. And now, what a wonderful message to us all that we can pray to Pope Francis as well."
After the service, Pope Francis's body will be taken in procession through the streets of Rome to his final resting place. His destination is his favourite church, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In a break with tradition, the Pope outlined in his will his request to be buried "in the ground, without particular ornamentation". He asked for his tomb to bear simply the inscription "Franciscus".
