World leaders begin arriving in Rome on Friday, and will be a more modest, but still a historic event, although more modest than usual, before Pope Francis’ weekend burial.
Pope Francis, who passed away Monday from heart failure after a stroke at 88, was widely popular for what many viewed as humility and compassion for marginalized people.
The passing of the Pope represents a significant change for the Catholic Church, with the final choice of burial ceremonies and the new pope leader all usually elaborate. However, the late Pope Francis wanted a simpler funeral. His body is buried in a simple cow made of wood and hangs into an unmarked tomb.
Still, the funeral roll call featuring 170 foreign officials, including dozens of heads of state, makes the event an extraordinary political gathering. Not all attendees have eye contact, so it can be diplomatic awkward.
Here’s what we know about who will take part:
What time is the Pope’s funeral?
The ceremony will begin on Saturday, April 26th at 10am (08:00 GMT). It will be held at St. Peter Square in the Vatican.
The Pope is usually buried under the Cathedral of St. Peter, but a walk from the city’s Termini Central Railway Station, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is his final choice of resting place.
During his lifetime, the church was a favorite of Pope Francis, and he visited frequently on his last days as his health became weaker. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the main basilicas in Rome, and was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the 14th century.
The US flag will fly for half price near Washington Monument at the National Mall in Washington DC on April 21, 2025 in Washington DC [Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP]
Who will go to the Pope’s funeral?
The head of state and the royal head confirmed they attended Rome for their funeral on Saturday. Some of them have had a comfortable interaction with the Pope during his lifetime, but he has always disagreed with others.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
Trump said the late Pope was “a very good man” who “loved the world.” The US President ordered the flag to fly on a half-mast.
However, the two men didn’t always go that well.
Pope Francis criticizes the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policy. During Trump’s first presidency from 2017 to 2021, the Pope also spoke to the US-Mexico border wall, saying that those who build walls instead of bridges are “not Christians.”
Trump returned at the time, saying that questions about the Pope’s faith were “disgrace.”
The two met in 2017 when Trump visited the Vatican. He said the Pope was “really good” and they held a “great” meeting.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer
In a statement after the Pope’s death, Supreme said he was “deeply saddened” by the news. “His leadership in a complex and challenging era for the world and the church was often courageous, but always came from a place of deep humility,” he said.
William, Prince of Wales
Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William will represent the British royal family in Rome.
In a statement, King Charles said Pope Francis will be remembered for his compassion. “Through his work and care for both him and the planet, he has been deeply touched on the lives of so many people,” he said.
At the beginning of April, the king and queen visited the Pope while on a trip to Italy.
On October 11, 2024, Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky arrives to the left along with Pope Francis at the Vatican. [Vatican Media via AP]
Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska
The Pope sought peace in Ukraine amid ongoing war following the Russian invasion.
Last October, Zelenskyy met the Vatican Pope. This is the end of several meetings between the two.
However, there was also tension. In March 2024, the Pope said the following about the Ukrainian War:
Ukraine strongly criticized that perspective.
Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and First Lady Jarrada Silva
Brazil has the world’s largest Catholic population, with over 100 million followers.
President Lula declared on Monday that he was in seven days of mourning to mark Pope Francis’ death. He met him several times.
In a statement, Lula said: “We were able to share ideals of peace, equality and justice. We were able to share ideals that the world always needs and always needs.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Lisa Marcos
The Philippines is another major Catholic country. Almost 80% of the population is identified as Catholic.
In 2015, the Pope visited the capital Manila, where he attracted millions of outdoor masses there.
In a statement, President Marcos Jr. described Pope Francis as the man who led him as “not just wisdom, but a heart open to everyone.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Sergio Matarera
Meloni met the Pope several times. But while her government has pushed policies that many view as anti-immigrants, Pope Francis cited the country’s low birth rate in sought a hug of Italian immigrants.
Argentina President Javier Miley
The late Pope was Argentinian and was the archbishop of Buenos Aires before his ascension to the leader of the Pope. Argentina declared mourning for a week after his death.
Mairay, whose right-wing policy is significantly different from the Pope’s more left-leaning trend, visited him in the Vatican in February 2024. In the past, Mairay called the Pope “Left.”
Pope Francis is located on April 24, 2025 in the province of St. Peter Basilica, Vatican [Remo Casilli/Reuters]
Other VIPs are:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron Polish President Andrzezi Duda Eu Chairman Ursula von der Leyen President Olaf Scholz President Moldova President Philippe and Queen Mathilde Sweden’s Karl XVI Gustav and Queen Sylvia Ireland’s Prime Minister Misia Martin Martin Milanovic King of Spain and Queen Leticia Queen Mary of Denmark Prime Minister Christian Stocker of Austria Prime Minister Christian Stocker Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeriazkov
Asia Pacific
President of India Druadi Mam, interim leader of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon
latin america
President of the Dominican Republic, President Louis Abinader Ecuador, President Daniel Novoa
Africa
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Cisekedi, Central African Republic, President Fauston Archange Toudella Gabon, President Bliss Clotea Oligue Oligue Nuguema Cape Verde, President Jose Maria Neves
Who won’t be attending?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be present. Both are subject to international arrest warrants for alleged war crimes.
Can you expect diplomatic awkwardness?
Yes, we expect a tense encounter at the gathering. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on trade tariffs and Ukraine and Gaza wars have contributed to an increasingly tense geopolitical climate.
This will be the first time Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenkie have met since their extremely tense encounter at the White House. Meanwhile, Trump scolded Zelensky for not negotiating with Russia and JD Vance with his vice president, and he denounced him for his lack of “thank you” to the United States. This week, Trump resented Ukraine for refusing to admit Russia’s control of Crimea.
However, the alphabetical order seating arrangement means that at least you are not sitting next to you.
Zelenskyy told reporters this week that he asked for a meeting with Trump on the funeral bystanders. It is not yet clear whether the US has agreed.
There may be tensions between President Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron who criticized Trump’s tariff war as “unnecessary.”
George W. and Laura Bush will kneel to the body of Pope John Paul II of the St. Peter’s Basilica of the Vatican on April 8, 2005, as US President and First Ladies, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, former US President, and Condoleeza Rice as Secretary of State (LR). [AP Photo]
What happened at the last Pope’s burial?
Pope John Paul II’s April 2005 funeral is remembered for several troublesome moments as it united many countries with fragile relationships. The Pope led from 1978 to 2005.
The crowd was jealous of former US President George Bush after his face appeared on a monitor with his face mounted due to his role in the then ongoing Iraq War. It was also known that Bush, who sat beside Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Syrian Bashar al-Assad, also ignored them. In previous statements, Bush called the country “the axis of evil” and “the front post of tyranny.”
King Charles, then Prince of Wales in England, made a mistake when he shook hands with Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The two countries had poor relations at the time. The UK had accused Zimbabwe of committing human rights abuses by seizing land from rich white farmers and distributing it to the country’s underprivileged black majority. Prince Charles later apologized for his friendly greeting and called Zimbabwean policy “abhorrent.”
Then there was another handshake this time that wasn’t supposed to happen between historic enemies. Iranian Kartami and Israeli President Moshe Kassaf have sparked speculation that the fuss and bonds may soon be repaired. However, Katami shattered hopes at this a few days later, but he denied that a handshake had happened.
The funeral also made China’s Thai Wang more tense. To that end, China ran in the Vatican for inviting Taiwan and boycotting the event. Taiwan’s President Chen Shui Bian later accused the Vatican of refusing to provide him with a translator, and bystanding him by reducing the likelihood of speaking to other world leaders.
