Attendees for Pope Leo's Inauguration Revealed: Insights Gleaned
Casually Covering Pope Leo's Inaugural Mass: Who's Going and Who's AWOL
Hey there, get ready for some papal action! On Sunday, the world's finest gather in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, for Pope Leo's inaugural mass. Here's the lowdown on who's attending and who's giving it a skip.
Who's Taking the Vatican Visit?
Prime Minister Mark Carney will be jetting off to Rome on Friday, ready to attend the inaugural mass, according to his office's announcement earlier this week. Carney's stay in Italy runs through Monday.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's prez, is keen on showing up, his chief of staff shared with Reuters. There's also the possibility of Zelenskyy holding talks with other world leaders attending the ceremony.
JD Vance, the US vice-prez, is setting off for the Vatican to attend the inauguration. Pope Leo might not see eye-to-eye with Vance and President Donald Trump on social media, but that won't stop Vance from attending.
Also in attendance are U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli President Isaac Herzog (confirmed through local media).
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make an appearance following a visit to Indonesia, his office confirmed. He's planning a round of meetings with fellow world leaders attending the ceremony. Dutch royalty Queen Maxima and Prime Minister Dick Schoof will also grace the Vatican with their presence.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confirmed to attend the pope's inauguration, according to a post from the president's media center. A personal invitation from Pope Leo XIV emphasized Nigeria's significance, as he worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos back in the 1980s.
Who's Keeping Their Distance?
King Charles III and Prince William, who recently visited the Vatican, won't be making an appearance this time around. In their stead, Prince Edward will represent the royal family.
The US President Donald Trump hasn't made up his mind about attending, but when Pope Francis was inaugurated in 2013, Vice President Joe Biden was present, while President Obama skipped the ceremony.
French President Emmanuel Macron hasn't scheduled his Vatican visit yet, though he did discuss peace in Ukraine and Gaza with the Pope on social media. France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, however, is expected to attend, as reported by local media.
With contributions from The Canadian Press
Extra Notes:- Some countries without diplomatic relations with the Vatican, such as China, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and North Korea, didn't send representatives since they don't maintain formal diplomatic ties with the Holy See.- King Charles III initially planned to attend but later changed his plans due to health-related concerns, with his younger brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, representing the royal family instead.- No other major individual figures overlooked the inauguration based on available sources.
The media in Toronto and general news outlets have been covering the anticipated attendance of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Pope Leo's inaugural mass, although no official confirmation has been made.
The aforementioned list of world leaders includes JD Vance, the US vice-president, who will be representing the United States, while King Charles III and Prince William of Britain have decided to remain absent, with Prince Edward serving as the royal family's representative instead.
Moreover, political tensions might be reflected in the media as the French President Emmanuel Macron has yet to announce his plans for the Vatican visit, despite their communication on peace-related issues, just as they did with former Pope Francis during his inauguration in 2013.
