VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican’s Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday’s otherwise somber funeral.

The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled to mark the end of the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City, where throngs of mourners had gathered to give a final send-off to a pontiff who was celebrated during the service as a champion of migrants and the poor.

The vatican says 250,000 people were in attendance and packed into Saint Peter's square to say their last farewell to Pope Francis during his funeral.