Leaders from across the globe are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis today (Saturday) as the world mourns and pays tribute to the widely-respected religious figurehead. Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff to lead the Holy See, will be honoured with a huge ceremony in St Peter’s Square, in front of St Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican.
Massed ranks of chairs are already in place for dignitaries, celebrities, and politicians who have been invited to the funeral, which brings to an end the three days Pope Francis has been lying in state. Hundreds of thousands of members of the public have already queued for hours to pay their own personal respects to the pope, who passed away aged 88 on Easter Monday. For the official ceremony today, a host of world leaders are expected, including US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, as well Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William.
Ukraine‘s President Zelensky is also expected to make an appearance, no doubt offering some thanks for Pope Francis meeting him three times since Russia‘s invasion of his country in February 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron is likely to be there, as too is President Javier Milei, who comes from the Pope’s native Argentina. Francis was the first pope to be selected from a South American country and Mr Milei will honour his compatriot despite announcing his own intent to convert to Judaism when he leaves office.
Other notable guests include the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
However, papal proceedings are unlikely to feature several other key players on the world stage, most notably Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is unlikely to risk a trip to a NATO country and ICC member during the war with Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also not expected to attend. The leader of the State of Israel will send the country’s ambassador Yaron Sideman.
Israel and the Vatican had enjoyed close relations, but since the October 7, 2023, terror attack and subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza, relations have become strained.
It was reported Pope Francis appeared used the word “genocide” in relation to the Israeli military operation in Gaza a month after the Hamas attack. Palestinians who met him said the pontiff did use the term, but the Vatican denied he had.
In January he called the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory “shameful” and the BBC reported Father Gabriel Romanelli, from Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, said Pope Francis called him every day since the war started.
Ireland’s taoiseach Micheal Martin
Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, along with prime minister Bart De Wever
Croatia’s president Zoran Milanovic
Cyprian president Nikos Christodoulides
Czech Republic’s prime minister Petr Fiala
Dominican Republic’s president Luis Abinader
East Timor’s president Jose Ramos-Horta
Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa
Estonia’s president Alar Karis
Finland’s president Alexander Stubb
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz
Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Hungary’s president Tamas Sulyok
Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Giorgia Meloni
Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda
Moldova’s president Maia Sandu
Netherlands’ prime minister Dick Schoof
New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon
Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
The Philippines’ president Ferdinand Marcos Jr
Poland’s president Andrzej Duda
Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luis Montenegro
Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan
Switzerland’s president Karin Keller-Sutter
