World leaders blessed to arrive in Rome on Friday before the weekend burial of Pope Francis, a ceremony that, there, more discreet than usual, is still ready to be a historical event.
Pope Francis, who died Monday due to heart failure after a stroke at the age of 88, was widely popular, so many saw their humility and compassion for marginalized people.
The death of a Pope repeats a transcendental change for the Catholic Church, and the rites of burial and the possible selection of a new papal leader are all elaborated issues. However, the late Pope Francis had asked for a simpler funeral: his body will be buried in a simple coffin made of wood and will be lowered in an unmarked grave.
Even so, funeral call, which has 170 foreign dignitaries, including Don’s Heads of State, will make the event an extraordinary political meeting. Since not all attendees are seen in the eyes, there is also likely that there is a board or diplomatic discomfort.
This is what we know about who will attend.
What time is the Pope’s funeral?
The ceremony will begin at 10 AM CET (08:00 GMT) on Saturday, April 26. It will take place at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
The potatoes are common buried under the Basilica of San Pedro, but the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, a few steps from the Central Termini train station in the city, is the choice of the Pope as his final resting place.
Duration in his life, the Church was the favorite of Pope Francis, and visited Odes in his last days as his health weakened. Santa María Maggiore is one of the main basilics of Rome and the first to devote himself to the Virgin Mary in the fourteenth century.
Who goes to the Pope’s funeral?
Several heads of state and royalty have confirmed their assistance in Rome for funeral on Saturday. Some of them had pleasant interactions with the duration of the Pope his life, but he did not always agree with others.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump
Trump said the late Pope was a “very good man” who “loved the world.” The president of the United States ordered the flags to be flown halfway.
However, the two men did not always get along.
Pope Francis has criticized the anti -immigrant policies of the Trump administration. Duration The first presidency of Trump from 2017 to 2021, the Pope also spoke against the American-Mexico border wall, saying that a person who builds walls instead of bridges “was not a Christian.”
Trump retreated at that time, saying that the Pope’s interrogation about his faith was “misfortune.”
The two with in 2017 when Trump visited the Vatican. He said that the Pope was “really good” and that they had had a “fantastic” meeting.
United Kingling Keir Starmer’s Prime Minister
In a statement after the death of the Pope, Starmer said he was “deeply sad” for the news. “His leadership at a complex and challenging moment for the world and the church was of Valiente, but he always came from a place of deep humility,” he said.
William, Prince of Wales
Kensington’s palace confirmed that Prince William William William regrets the United Kingdom’s royal family in Rome.
In a statement, King Charles said Pope Francis would be remembered for his compassion. “Through his work and care for both people and the planet, he touched the life of so many,” he said.
At the beginning of April, King and Queen Camilla visited the Pope while on a trip to Italy.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zenskyy, and the first lady Olena Zenska
The Pope asked for peace in Ukraine in the midst of the ongoing war after Russia’s invasion.
Last October, Zenskyy with the Pontiff in the Vatican, the last of several meetings between the two.
But there was also tension: in March 2024, the Pope said about the Ukraine War: “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”
Ukraine strongly criticized that point of view.
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the first lady Janja Lula da Silva
Brazil is home to Larst’s Catholic population in the world, with more than 100 million believers.
President Lula declared a seven -day mourning period for Mark the death of Pope Francis on Monday. He had several times.
In a statement, Lula said: “We were able to share our ideals of peace, equality and justice, ideals that the world has always needed and will always need.”
The president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the first lady Lisa Marcos
Philippines is another important Catholic country. Almost 80 percent of the population identifies as a Catholic.
In 2015, the Pope visited the capital, Manila, attracting millions to an outdoor mass there.
In a statement, President Marcos JR described Pope Francis as a man who directed “not only with wisdom but an open heart to all.”
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and President Sergio Mattarella
Meloni with the Pope several times. But while his government has pushed or promoted the policies that many see as anti-migrants, Pope Francis requested a hug of migrants in Italy, citing the low birth rate of the country.
The president of Argentina, Javier Milei
The late Pope was Argentine and was archbishop of Buenos Aires before his ascent to papal leadership. Argentina declared a week of mourning after his death.
Milei, whose right -wing policies differ sharply from the most inclined trends of the Pope, visited him in the Vatican in February 2024. In the past, Milei called the Pope a “leftist.”
Other VIP include:
- UN Secretary of the UN, Antonio Guterres
Europe
- French president Emmanuel Macron
- Polish President Andrzej Doubt
- President of the EU Ursula von der Leyen commission
- Germany Olaf Scholz chancellor
- The president of Moldavia, Maia Sandu
- King Philippe and Queen Mathilde de Belgica
- King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
- Ireland Prime Minister Micheal Martin
- The president of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic
- The president of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics
- King of Spain Felipe and Queen Letizia
- Queen Maria de Denmark
- Foreign Minister Christian Stocker of Austria
- Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov,
Pacific Asia
- President Droupadi Murmu of India
- Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
Latin America
- President of the Dominican Republic Lui Abinader
- President of Ecuador, Daniel Nnovera,
Africa
- Democratic Republic of President of Congo Felix Tshisekedi
- The President of the Republic of Central Africa, Faustin-Ange
- The president of Gabón, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema
- The president of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves,
Who will not attend?
Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be present. Both are subject to international judgment orders on accusations of war crimes.
Is diplomatic discomfort expected?
Yes, some tense meetings are expected at the meeting. The recent commercial tariffs of the president of the United States and the comments on the wars of Ukraine and Gaza have contributed to an increasingly tense geopolitical climate.
The president of Trump and Ukraine, Zelenskyy, will meet in person for the first time from the very tense meeting of February at the White House, the duration that Trump scolded Zenskyy for not negotiating with Russia and his vice president JD Vance Torabbasted this week, Trump again scolded Ukraine again for refusing Russia control of Russia of Russia of Crimea.
However, a package of alphabetical seats means that at least it will not sit next to the other.
Zenskyy told reporters this week that he had asked for a meeting with Trump outside the funeral. It is not yet clear if the United States has agreed.
There could also be tensions between Trump and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who has criticized Trump’s tariff war, calling it “unnecessary.”
What happened at the funeral of the last Pope?
The ceremony of the funeral of April 2005 of Pope John Paul II remains memorable for several uncomfortable moments, since he brought together several countries with fragile relations. The Pope led from 1978 to 2005.
A crowd mocked former American president George Bush after his face appeared on monitors mounted due to his role in the Iraq war, which was in time. Bush, who sat in the president of Rivals-Iran, Mohammad Khatami and Syria, Bashar al-Assad-Was also observed that he ignored them. In previous statements, Bush had referred to the country as a “axis of evil” and the “advanced position of tyranny.”
Meanwhile, King Charles, who was the Prince of Wales of the United Kingdom, made a mistake when he shaken the hand of Robert Mugabe de Zimbabwe. The two countries had bad relations at that time: the United Kingdom had accused Zimbabwe of committing human rights voices by taking lands of rich white farmers to distribute to the country’s disadvantaged black majority. Prince Charles then apologized for the friendly greeting and called Zimbabwe’s “abhorrent” policies.
Then, there was another handshake that should not happen, this time between historical enemies: the Khatami of Iran and Israeli President Moshe Katsav, causing a utro and speculations that ties could soon be repaired. Khatami launched any hope of this a few days later, however, when he denied that the handshake had happened.
China-Taiwan’s relations were also beaten by the funeral. In the previous days, China had criticized the Vatican for inviting Taiwan and boycotting the event. The Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-Bian, later accused the Vatican of marking him by refusing to provide translators and, therefore, reduce his chances of speaking with other world leaders.