World leaders, heads of state, and dignitaries have gathered in Rome today for the funeral of Pope Francis, the beloved head of the Roman Catholic Church who passed away recently.
The Vatican announced that 164 delegations confirmed attendance, including 54 heads of state and 12 reigning sovereigns. Over 250,000 people paid their final respects during three days of public viewing that ended yesterday, ahead of today’s funeral at St. Peter’s Square and the subsequent burial at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Among those attending are U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Other notable attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, Prince William, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to Euro News.
The Vatican extended overnight viewing hours to accommodate the overwhelming number of mourners. In a touching gesture, a group of poor and homeless individuals were invited to meet the pope’s coffin before the funeral ceremony.
Pope Francis, clad in red vestments, a bishop’s miter, and holding a rosary, chose to be buried near the revered icon of the Madonna at Saint Mary Major, a place where he often prayed. His marble tombstone, engraved simply with “Franciscus” in Latin, was unveiled yesterday.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, serving as the camerlengo, is overseeing the sealing of the coffin. A white cloth will be placed over the late pope’s face, alongside a bag of coins minted during his papacy and a one-page record of his pontificate.
The conclave to elect a new pope is not expected to begin until after May 5, following nine days of mourning. Cardinals met yesterday to discuss church affairs, though no conclave date has yet been set.
Security measures are unprecedented, with over 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers deployed across Rome, alongside a naval ship stationed offshore and fighter jets on standby. Authorities expect up to 300,000 mourners along the 4-kilometer route from the Vatican to the burial site.
