World leaders, royalty, and the Catholic faithful are set to gather in Vatican City this Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis. After lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica for three days in a simple wooden coffin, the late Pontiff’s funeral will be held in St Peter’s Square, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend.
The gathering will be joined by kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, the United Nations Secretary-General, and dignitaries from across the globe. Tributes have continued to pour in from around the world—from a moment of silence at Milan’s San Siro stadium to gestures of remembrance at the United Nations and the New York Stock Exchange.
Pope Francis passed away in the early hours of Easter Monday at the age of 88. His life, dedicated to the poor and marginalized, will be remembered against the grand backdrop of the papal enclave in Rome. Among the many prominent figures attending will be UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who praised Francis for his commitment to peace, development, and unity. Guterres recalled the Pope’s final Easter message encouraging the world to reject the “logic of fear” and embrace “weapons of peace.”
United States President Donald Trump ordered all government flags flown at half-mast until Saturday evening in honor of the Pope, calling him “a good man” who “loved the world.” Trump will be joined by European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, who hailed Francis as a champion of justice and fraternity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed her attendance, with her spokesperson highlighting Francis’ inspiration to millions beyond the Catholic Church. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite recent attacks on Kyiv, will also attend, along with the King and Queen of Spain, the Prince of Wales, and the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remembered Francis’ advice never to lose one’s sense of humor, while Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva both honored the Pope’s dedication to the poor and vulnerable. Lula warmly described Francis as a beacon for the disenfranchised and a joyful spirit with a deep passion for football.
The funeral will follow traditional Catholic rituals for a reigning Pope’s death, last seen during Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005. Vatican expert Philip Pullella noted that prayers, the final commendation, and a farewell ritual will precede Francis’ burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as per his wishes.
In his will written in 2022, Pope Francis requested a simple burial, in a plain wooden coffin with only the name “Franciscus” inscribed. His humility in life is reflected in the simplicity of his final resting place.
Over 170 delegations from around the world will attend the funeral, while millions more are expected to watch the ceremony broadcast globally. The funeral will be presided over by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista, under tight security outside St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis’ legacy of compassion, humility, and service will endure, inspiring generations to come.