Trump, Other World Leaders Pay Respect As Pope Francis’ Burial Commences
The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday aged 88, is taking place in the Vatican — attended by hundreds of thousands around the world.
Dozens of leaders and dignitaries — including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William — have joined thousands of mourners in St Peter’s Square.
World leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, Prince William of the United Kingdom, and others, paid their respects to Pope Francis’ coffin inside the basilica before the service began, the BBC reports.
Among other heads of state expected to attend are the presidents of France, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, the European Commission, and Argentina — Francis’ home country. Britain’s Prime Minister, as well as the King and Queen of Belgium, will also be present.
The Prince of Wales will attend the funeral on behalf of the King, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
The King was in Rome with Queen Camilla earlier this month and met the pontiff at the Vatican.
The President of the European Commission has also confirmed her attendance.
She called Pope Francis “a worldwide inspiration.”
“He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” she said in her tribute.
Pope Francis’s funeral service started this morning.
It was earlier reported, the funeral Mass is being led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.
It was reported that the 91-year-old Italian was ordained for the Diocese of Brescia in 1957. In 2001, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him a cardinal.
The BBC further noted that he was elected as Dean of the College of Cardinals in 2020, and Pope Francis extended his term in February this year.
Naija News House earlier reported that the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, led the Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday.
This was confirmed in a statement released Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
The delegation, sent on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, according to Onanuga, comprises five members, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama.
Onanuga stated, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.”
He recalled that President Tinubu earlier joined the global Christian community in mourning the pontiff’s death, calling him “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In his tribute, President Tinubu noted that the timing of the Pope’s death, immediately following the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, “symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.”
