The world is gearing up to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
His death comes just a day after he made a final public appearance during Easter services.
The funeral, slated to take place in St. Peter’s Square later this week, has drawn tributes and condolences across the globe and is expected to be attended by many world leaders and dignitaries.
The funeral ceremony marks the culmination of a nine-day mourning period, with Pope Francis’ body currently lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.
Traditionally, the funeral takes place within the first week of the mourning period and is expected to draw enormous global attention.
Moreover, among the first to confirm attendance is President Donald Trump, who announced on Truth Social that he and his wife, Melania Trump, will travel to Rome for the service. “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome,” Trump wrote, describing the late pontiff as “a very good man who loved the world… and especially loved people that were having a hard time.”
Should he attend, Trump would become the first sitting president to attend a papal funeral since President George W. Bush travelled to the Vatican in 2005 for Pope John Paul II’s service.
From Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron has also confirmed his participation, reflecting Francis’ broad appeal beyond religious lines.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, according to a senior official from the Ukrainian presidency who spoke to AFP on Tuesday.
His attendance will be keenly monitored given the late pope’s vocal calls for peace amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The British Royal Family is also expected to be represented. While official confirmation is still pending, Prince William is widely speculated to attend as the UK’s representative, following in the footsteps of his father, King Charles, who attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral as Prince of Wales.
Also, King Charles expressed his condolences in a heartfelt message on Monday, saying: “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased… to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion.”
The Vatican is currently preparing for the high-profile funeral with extensive security and diplomatic arrangements, as leaders and faithful from around the world converge on Rome to honour the life and legacy of the first Latin American pontiff.
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