Several world leaders have converged on St. Peter’s Square in Rome as the final funeral rites for Catholic pontiff Pope Francis commenced on Saturday morning.
Among the prominent figures in attendance are Prince Williams, United States President Donald Trump; his wife Melania, former President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and French First Lady Brigitte Macron are also present at the solemn occasion.
Other notable leaders and royals at the Vatican include
Poland President Andrzej Duda
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, Pope Francis’s home country
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader
Belgium King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Croatia President Zoran Milanovic
Ecuador President Daniel Noboa
Ireland Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin
Moldova President Maia Sandu
Latvia President Edgars Rinkevics
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
Queen Mary of Denmark
China Vice President Chen Chin-Jen
Jordan King Abdullah II and Queen Rania
Monaco Prince Albert and Princess Charlene
Hungary President Tamas Sulyok and
Prime Minister Viktor Orban
European Council President Antonio Costa
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday following complications from a stroke, coma, and heart failure, is being honored with a solemn requiem mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
The mass is being presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, ahead of the Pope’s internment later today.