World leaders began reaching Rome on Friday before the burial of Pope Francis’s weekend, a party, despite more Low key from usualIt is still scheduled to be a historical event.
Pope Francisfrom He died On Monday of the heart failure after stroke at the age of 88, it was widely common when many saw his humility and sympathy for marginalized people.
The death of the Pope represents a major transformation of the Catholic Church, burial rituals and the final selection of the new papal leader, all of which are usually complex affairs. However, the late Pope Francis requested a simpler funeral: his body will be buried in a simple coffin made of wood and lower to an unique grave.
However, the funeral call, which includes 170 foreign dignitaries, including dozens of heads of state, will make the event an extraordinary political gathering. Since all those present do not see face to face, there is also possible that there will be a catastrophe of diplomatic embarrassment.
Here is what we know about who will attend.
What time is the funeral of the Pope?
The ceremony will start at 10 am Ce (08:00 GMT) on Saturday, April 26. It will be held in Saint Peter Square in the Vatican.
The popes are usually buried under the Church of St. Peter, but the Church of Santa Maria Maglor, a short distance from the city’s central Terminini train station, is the choice of the Pope as its final place.
During his life, Pope Francis’s favorite church was often visited in his last days with his weak health. Santa Maria Mager is one of the top Basilicas Rome and the first to devote the Virgin Mary in the fourteenth century.
Who is going to the funeral of the Pope?
Several heads of state and Royals confirmed their presence in Rome at the funeral on Saturday. Some of them had enjoyable interactions with the Pope during his life, but he did not always agree with others.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
Trump said that the late Pope was a “very good man” “loved the world.” The President of the United States ordered the transfer of flags in the half -sacrifice.
However, the two men did not always get well.
Pope Francis criticized the Trump administration’s policies to combat immigration. During Trump’s first presidency from 2017 to 2021, the Pope also spoke against the border wall between the United States and Mexico, saying that the person who builds the walls instead of bridges is “not Christian.”
Trump picked up again at the time, saying that the questioning of the Pope with his faith was “disgraceful”.
The two met in 2017 when Trump visited the Vatican. He said that the Pope was “really good” and that they held a “wonderful” meeting.
UK Prime Minister Kiir Starmer
In a statement after the death of the Pope, Starmer said he was “very sad” from the news. He said: “His leadership is in a complex and difficult time for the world and the church was often courageous, but it always came from a place of deep humility.”
William, Prince of Wales
Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William will represent the royal family in the United Kingdom in Rome.
In a statement, King Charles said that Pope Francis would be remembered for his sympathy. He said, “Through his work and care for both people and the planet, I deeply touched the lives of many,” he said.
Earlier in April, the king and Queen Camilla visited the Pope during a trip to Italy.
Ukraine President Voludmir Zelinski and First Lady Olina Zelinska
He called on the Pope to peace in Ukraine amid the ongoing war after the invasion of Russia.
Last October, Zelinski met the marginalization in the Vatican – the last several meetings between the two.
But there was also tension: In March 2024, the Pope said about the Ukraine war: “When you see that you are defeated, things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate.”
Ukraine strongly criticized this view.
Brazilian President Louise Insio Lula da Silva and First Lady Ganga Lula da Silva
Brazil is home to the largest number of Catholic population in the world, with more than 100 million believers.
The president had not announced the period of seven -day mourning for Mark to the death of Pope Francis on Monday. He met him several times.
In a statement, Lula said: “We have been able to share our ideals of peace, equality and justice – the ideals that the world always needs, and it will always need.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcus Junior and First Lady Lisa Marcos
The Philippine is another major Catholic country. Nearly 80 percent of the population is to know that it is Catholic.
In 2015, the Pope visited the capital, Manila, attracted millions to an outdoor mass there.
In a statement, President Marcus Junior described Pope Francis as a man who led “not only with wisdom but the heart is open to all.”
Prime Minister Italy, Georgia Meloni, and President Sergio Mattarella
Meloni met the Pope several times. But while her government often prompted the policies that many see as hostile to immigrants, Pope Francis called for migrants to embrace Italy, citing the country’s depression in the country.
Argentina President Javier Millie
The late Pope was the Argentine Pope and the Archbishop of Buenos Aires before his ascension to his papal leadership. Argentina announced a week of mourning after his death.
Millie, whose right -wing policies differ sharply from the tendencies of the most tendencies to the left, in the Vatican in February 2024. In the past, Milli described the Pope as “leftist”.
Other adults include:
- Secretary General of Antonio Guterres
Europe
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- Polish President Anderzig Doda
- Chairman of the European Union Committee, Ursula von der Lin
- Germany Advisor Olaf Schools
- President of Moldova Mia Sando
- King of Belgium Philip and Queen McCill
- King of Sweden Karl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia
- Prime Minister in Ireland Michel Martin
- Croatia President Zoran Milanovich
- Latvia President Edgar Renkivix
- King of Spain Felipe and Queen Letizia
- Queen of Denmark Mary
- Austrian adviser Christian Stoker
- Prime Minister Bulgaria Rosen Gilllizov
Asia and the Pacific
- The President of India Dropadi Mormo
- Temporary leader Bangladesh Mohamed Yunus
- Prime Minister in New Zealand Christopher Luxon
latin america
- The President of the Dominican Republic to Abinder
- Ecuador President Daniel Nuboa
Africa
- The Republic of Democracy, President of the Congo Felix Chesikdi
- The President of the Central African Republic, Fostin Artadira
- Oligui Nguea
- Cape Verde Jose Maria Nevis
Who will not attend?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be present. They both have international detention bodies over war crimes allegations.
Is it expected that a diplomatic embarrassment?
Yes, it is expected that some tense meetings in the gathering. US President Donald Trump is the latest Commercial definitions The comments on the wars of Ukraine and Gaza contributed to the increasingly tense geopolitical climate.
Trump’s President and Ukraine Zeilinski will meet personally for the first time since their tension in February Corresponding In the White House, during which Trump from Zelinski was touched for not negotiating with Russia and his vice president, Vice President JD Vance criticized him because of the lack of “gratitude” towards the United States. This week, Trump ruled Ukraine again for refusing to recognize Russia’s control of the Crimea.
However, the arrangement of alphabetical seating of the patriarchal means that they will not sit at least next to each other.
Zelinski told the correspondents this week that he requested a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the funeral. It is not yet clear whether the United States has agreed.
There can be tensions between Trump and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who criticized the Trump’s introductory war, describing it as “unnecessary”.
What happened in the burial of the last Pope?
The funeral ceremony of Pope John Paul II 2005 remains unforgettable for several embarrassing moments, as a number of countries with fragile relations together. He led the Pope from 1978 to 2005.
A crowd of former US President George W. Bush after his face appeared on screens launched because of his role in the Iraq war, which was continuing at that time. Bush, who sat next to his competitors-President Muhammad Khatami and Syria, Bashar al-Assad. In the previous data, Bush referred to the countries as the “Axis of Evil” and “the settlement focus of tyranny.”
Meanwhile, King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales in the United Kingdom, made a mistake when Robert Mugabe shook hands with Zimbabwe. The two countries had bad relations at that time: the UK Zimbabwe accused of human rights violations by seizing lands from the wealthy white farmers to distribute to the deprived black majority in the country. Prince Charles later apologized for a friendly greeting and called on Zimbabwe’s “hateful” policies.
After that, there was another handshake that was not supposed to happen, this time between historical enemies: Khatami Iran and Israeli President Moshe Katsaf, causing a stir and speculation that relations may be fixed soon. Khatami shattered any hopes of this a few days later, when he denied that the handshake had never occurred.
China Taiwan’s relations were also strained by the funeral. In the days before, China had erupted in the Vatican for its invitation Taiwan and boycotted the event. Taiwanese President Chen Shui accused the Vatican Bayan at a later time of marginalizing it by refusing to provide him with translators and thus reduce his chances of speaking to other world leaders.
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