Political and religious leaders from around the globe, alongside tens of thousands of pilgrims, have converged on the Vatican today to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.
The Vatican has confirmed that a total of 130 delegations are attending the solemn occasion, including 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government, and 12 reigning monarchs.
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Among the notable figures present are French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring the profound international impact of Francis’s leadership.
In addition to political leaders, royal figures from around the world have also arrived. Britain’s Prince William, heir to the throne, arrived at the Vatican, joined by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as the global community of monarchies honors the pontiff.
Crowds have flooded St. Peter’s Square, echoing scenes from previous papal farewells.
At least tens of thousands of people are expected today, with numbers anticipated to be closer to the 50,000 who came to Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral in 2023, though likely short of the record 300,000 mourners who gathered for Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005. The scale of the event has also drawn intense media interest.
Vatican media officials reported that more than 4,000 journalists from around the world have requested accreditation to cover the proceedings, highlighting the global significance of Francis’s passing and the enduring influence of the papacy.
Breakingng.com had reported that Pope Francis died in the morning of Easter Monday at the age of 88.
According to official confirmation, the late pontiff died as result of a coma and a fatal collapse of his heart and circulatory system.
