President William Ruto has joined other world leaders at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City for Pope Francis' final funeral mass and send-off.

From patrols on the River Tiber to surveillance drones and snipers deployed around St. Peter's Square, Rome is preparing to throw a thoroughly modern security shield around the ancient rituals of a papal funeral and its attendant huge crowds.

Australia’s only Cardinal has spoken in Rome hours before the funeral of Pope Francis. Melbourne-based Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic official, opened up about what he said was “a profoundly sacred moment for the church and the world”.