Several world leaders have confirmed they will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. The ceremony, to be held in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, is expected to draw wide international attention.
Americas
Donald Trump, U.S. President announced that he and his wife Melania will attend the funeral, writing on social media: “We look forward to being there!” He added in a separate post, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”
President Javier Milei of Argentina, where the late pontiff was born in 1936, will also be present. Milei praised the pope’s “goodness and wisdom.”
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Europe
From the European Union, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend, according to EU officials.
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will be in attendance, with the king describing the late pope as “an enormous ethical beacon of our world, of our time.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, said: “We will attend the pope’s funeral as we should.”
Germany will be represented by both Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will lead the German delegation. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who recently won elections with his conservative party, will not attend but expressed “great sorrow” at the pontiff’s passing.
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also be present, although Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm whether King Charles III will accompany him.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska will attend, with Zelensky noting that Pope Francis “prayed for peace in Ukraine.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine, will not attend, the Kremlin confirmed.
Other notable attendees from Europe include Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who hosted Pope Francis during one of his final foreign visits in September 2024.
Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda will be present. Duda has declared a national day of mourning for Saturday in honor of the late pontiff.
Read also: Global tributes as world leaders mourn Pope Francis death
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro will head their country’s delegation.
Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has confirmed his attendance, along with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. Slovenia will be represented by President Natasa Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob.
