Dozens of Filipino Catholics gathered on Saturday (April 26) inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Manila to watch the live broadcast of Pope Francis' funeral, offering prayers and moments of silence in remembrance of the late pontiff.

Speaking after the service, churchgoer Marites Lim expressed her hopes for the future of the Church: "We hope and expect that what Pope Francis started will be continued and there will be stronger unity among Catholics and everyone."

The Philippines, home to more than 80 million Catholics, has long had a special connection with Francis, who visited the country in 2015. His arrival drew a crowd estimated to be around seven million people at a historic Mass in the capital.

At the Vatican, presidents, royalty and simple mourners bade farewell to Pope Francis at a solemn funeral ceremony, where a cardinal appealed for the pontiff's legacy of caring for migrants, the downtrodden and the environment to be kept alive.

(Production: Jay Ereno, Adrian Portugal, Jared Hillel)