Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, including global dignitaries, Catholic officials, and mourners from across the world.
Confirmed attendees include notable heads of state and royals such as Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The ceremony is anticipated to be one of the largest international gatherings of political leaders since the inauguration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Pope Francis’s strong stances on global matters often placed him at odds with some leaders—several of whom will be in attendance.
Dignitaries will be seated on the right side of the square, facing the Basilica. The front row is reserved for the leaders of Argentina and Italy, followed by reigning monarchs, then other heads of state arranged alphabetically by country, using French.
UK Representation: Prince William and PM Starmer
The Prince of Wales will represent King Charles III at the funeral, following the precedent set when then-Prince Charles attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, also attending, praised Pope Francis as a “courageous” leader and a champion for “the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla, among the last to meet with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta earlier this month, paid tribute to his compassion and global impact. The King expressed how deeply moved they were by their recent visit and recalled past encounters with affection.
Brazil’s President Lula Pays Homage
President Lula, who shared a close bond with Pope Francis, will attend alongside First Lady Janja Lula da Silva. Following the Pope’s death, Lula declared a week of national mourning in Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country.
“Humanity loses a voice of respect and welcome,” Lula stated, adding that their shared ideals of peace, equality, and justice remain vital today.
Trump to Attend, Despite Past Clashes
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania will also attend, marking Trump’s first international trip of his second presidential term. He ordered flags at half-mast and described Pope Francis as “a very good man” who cared deeply for the struggling.
Though the two had tense moments—most notably Pope Francis’s 2016 criticism of Trump’s border wall proposal—Trump later praised their meeting at the Vatican in 2017, calling it “fantastic.”
Ukrainian President to Join Amid War Challenges
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Vatican City with First Lady Olena Zelenska. His attendance was uncertain due to ongoing military matters following a missile strike on Kyiv. Zelensky remembered Pope Francis for his ability to inspire hope and unity in times of pain.
Additional Dignitaries Attending
A long list of international leaders and royals will also be present:
- Poland: President Andrzej Duda
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, Parliament President Roberta Metsola, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas
- Argentina: President Javier Milei
- Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella
- Dominican Republic: President Luis Abinader
- Belgium: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
- Germany: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Croatia: President Zoran Milanović
- Ecuador: President Daniel Noboa
- Ireland: Taoiseach Micheál Martin
- Moldova: President Maia Sandu
- Norway: Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
- Latvia: President Edgars Rinkēvičs
- New Zealand: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
- Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
- UN: Secretary-General António Guterres
- Denmark: Queen Mary
- China: Vice President Chen Chin-Jen
- Jordan: King Abdullah II and Queen Rania
- Monaco: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene
- Hungary: President Tamás Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
