For Beau Biden's Funeral, Hundreds Line The Streets Of Wilmington, Delaware — PHOTOS

Thousands gathered at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday for the funeral of Beau Biden, the vice president's son and a politician in his own right. President Obama delivered a eulogy at the funeral Mass, acknowledging the Bidens as members of his own family. "We are here to grieve with you but more importantly we are here because we love you," Obama told the packed church.

The president reaffirmed Beau Biden's commitment to public service, praising him as an "original" and a "man of character." Obama lamented that his untimely passing has "left a gaping hole in the world." The president also assured the Biden family that he and Michelle "are here for you" during their time of grief.

Beau Biden died last Saturday at the age of 46 after a long battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his father and stepmother, Joe and Jill Biden, his wife, Hallie, and his children, Natalie and Hunter.

The attorney general of Delaware until early 2015, Beau Biden was a well-known politician in his home state — much like his father — and was believed to be the front-runner for Delaware governor in 2016. A member of the Delaware National Guard, Beau Biden served his county in other ways, completing a tour in Iraq. He also served as a major in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, which provides legal services for the U.S. Army.In a statement last week announcing his son's death, the vice president said he was "the finest man any of us have ever known." This is the second child Joe Biden has lost; his daughter, Naomi, died in a crash in 1972 along with his first wife, Neila.