Pope Francis’s funeral to be ‘symbol of humility’ – head of Catholic aid group

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina paying their respects at the lying in state of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (President of Ireland’s office/PA)

Pope Francis’s funeral will be “a symbol of his humility”, the head of a Catholic aid organisation has said.

Thousands of people are expected to gather ahead of Saturday’s funeral to bid a final farewell to Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.