Pope Francis's Funeral: A Grand Gathering of Global Leaders
World Leaders Invited to Pope's Funeral: Find Out Who Among Them Includes Droupadi Murmu and Donald Trump
Get ready for a globetrotting gathering, as the movers and shakers of the world descend upon the Vatican for Pope Francis's funeral on April 26. This star-studded event will welcome some heavy hitters, including India's President Droupadi Murmu, the one-and-only Donald Trump, and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
Expect an influx of heads of state and royals, who have been arriving in Rome ahead of the funeral. Shining a light on Pope Francis's roots and compassion for the less fortunate, a group of underprivileged individuals will have a chance to pay their respects at a small basilica.
On the guest list are former U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentina's President Javier Milei. This will mark the final day Pope Francis's body lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica before his coffin is sealed.
According to the Vatican, 130 international delegations will attend, along with 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. As the funeral approaches, the world waits with bated breath, eager to witness this grand send-off.
The Countdown to the Conclave Begins
The conclave to elect the next pope will not begin before May 5, allowing for nine days of public mourning. On April 21st, 113 cardinals met in Rome to begin preliminary discussions, with an expected reconvening on the 22nd. As Cardinal Fernando Filoni of Italy puts it, "We're still in the organizational phase."
A Farewell True to the Pope's Heart
True to Pope Francis's commitment to the marginalized, his body will be taken to St. Mary Major Basilica, where underprivileged individuals will pay their respects. In accordance with the Pope's wishes, he will be buried near an icon of the Madonna that he deeply cherished.
World Leaders Paying Their Respects
As the date draws near, many nations' leaders have confirmed their plans to attend the historic funeral. Here's who made the list:
Asia
- President Droupadi Murmu, India
- President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos, Philippines
Americas
- President Javier Milei, Argentina
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja, Brazil
- President Xiomara Castro, Honduras
- President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, United States
Europe
- Leaders from several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom - royals, presidents, and prime ministers included.
Middle East
- Yaron Sideman, Ambassador to the Holy See, Israel
Africa
- President Jose Maria Neves, Cape Verde
- President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Central African Republic
United Nations
- António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
The question mark remains over the attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (With AP Inputs)
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- The funeral of Pope Francis will not only attract global leaders, but also finance, politics, and general-news outlets, as former U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentina's President Javier Milei are expected to attend.
- A group of underprivileged individuals will pay their respects at a small basilica, in accordance with Pope Francis's compassion for the less fortunate, following his funeral.
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, will join other dignitaries at the funeral, demonstrating the event's global reach, attracting dignitaries from various continents like Asia, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
- The online world will also follow the significant event closely, as underprivileged communities in Finland and other parts of the world express their thoughts and reactions to the passing of Pope Francis.
- António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, will also be present at the funeral, highlighting the intersection of DEFI (decentralized finance) and global politics, as the event unites leaders in finance, politics, and humanitarian efforts.
