Miriam Wuolou, a 34-year-old of Eritrean origin, was seven-months pregnant when her body was discovered and has been absent from work for several weeks due to a serious form of diabetes.
She had worked as front-of-house at Pope Francis' home, a priests' guesthouse Santa Marta for years, acting as a kind of gatekeeper for the pope as well as for the bishops and cardinals who stay there.
The Argentinian pontiff visited the body of Wuolou ahead of the funeral service, in the church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini.
After laying the flowers, the Pope sprinkled the coffin with holy water and remained in prayer for twenty minutes.
The pope opted to live at the Santa Marta guesthouse after his appointment in 2013, rejecting the grand papal apartments because he found them too sumptuous and he feared isolation.
Miriam is thought to have died alone, of suspected problems related to her diabetes, which had already led doctor to warn that her pregnancy at risk.
Police are investigating a case of neglect and have interviewed family members, her ex-husband from whom she was separated, and most recent boyfriend, thought to be a policeman in the Vatican, according to Rome-based newspaper il Messaggero.
Her brother found the body on Friday after he had not heard from her for several days.
Earlier, Pope Francis met several members of the Italian association of manufacturing companies Confindustria.
The pontiff spoke with more than 7,000 businessmen, urging them to contribute to a more just society and reflect on the ethics of doing business.
'May justice always be your teacher,' he said, 'justice which refuses the 'easy-way-out' of recommendations and favoritisms, and the dangerous deviations of dishonesty and easy compromises.
'For there is no freedom without justice, and there is no justice without respect for the dignity of every person.'
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