As the days draw closer, the list of the 170 foreign delegations arriving in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26, 2025, becomes clearer. Heads of state, royalty, international organizations, and spiritual leaders are all set to pay their respects. The operational machinery is already in full swing, ensuring a smooth welcome at the capital's airports, security arrangements, and escorts. The ceremonial aspects will come into play at St. Peter's Square, where seating arrangements will be crucial, especially given the complex international relationships among attendees.
In the front rows, sovereigns, presidents, and prime ministers will take their places, while lower-level delegations will be seated further back. The seating arrangement is expected to follow the alphabetical order of countries in French, similar to the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. This means that Argentina, the homeland of Pope Bergoglio, will have prime seating, with President Javier Milei expected to arrive in Rome on Friday morning, April 25, 2025. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump may find himself sitting close to French President Emmanuel Macron but distanced from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has already requested a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Notably absent will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is under an international arrest warrant for war crimes. Instead, he will send Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova to represent Russia. Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend due to ongoing tensions with Pope Francis regarding the war in Gaza; Israel will be represented by Ambassador Yaron Sideman.
In a twist of political dynamics, Taiwan's President William Lai will also not be attending. Instead, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a Catholic, will represent Taiwan. The United Kingdom will send Prince William and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently praised Pope Francis as "an extraordinary man" during a session in the House of Commons.
Germany will be represented by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is set to hand over his position to Friedrich Merz shortly after the funeral. Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia will attend, accompanied by three ministers but without Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The royals of Belgium, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, will also be present along with Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Other royal attendees include King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden with Queen Silvia and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway with Princess Mette-Marit, and Prince Albert of Monaco with his wife, Charlène.
Interestingly, the Dutch royals, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, will not be attending due to the clash with King's Day, a national holiday celebrating the monarch's birthday. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is confirmed to attend, along with President of Cape Verde José Maria Neves from Africa. A high-level delegation from Al-Azhar, possibly led by Sheikh Ahmed el Tayyeb, is also expected to attend from Cairo.
In the days leading up to the funeral, at least 250,000 people have entered St. Peter's Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis. On the day of the funeral, around 200,000 faithful are expected to gather in St. Peter's Square, with many more lining the route of the funeral procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis will be buried. The procession from St. Peter's to Santa Maria Maggiore is anticipated to take just over an hour, moving at a slow pace of 5 to 10 kilometers per hour.
Security measures for the event are extensive, with approximately 4,000 police officers and 4,000 civil protection volunteers deployed to ensure safety. Over 1,500 tourist buses are expected to arrive for the funeral, alongside the security details for the attending heads of state.
The closing of the coffin took place privately at 8 PM on Friday, April 25, 2025. The ceremony, regulated by the recently modified Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, saw a white silk veil cover the Pope's face, with a bag of coins and the rogito, a document detailing the Pope's life and works, placed inside the coffin. The Basilica of St. Peter remained open until 2:30 AM on Thursday and until 7 PM on Friday, allowing a continuous stream of faithful to pay their respects.
During the ceremony, the cardinal camerlengo presided over the closing rites, reading the rogito that was then sealed in a metal tube and placed inside the coffin. The Pope's body was exposed for three days, from Wednesday morning until Friday evening, allowing for a steady pilgrimage of people coming to say their goodbyes.
On the day of the funeral, President Trump remarked on Pope Francis, stating he was "a good Christian" who "loved the world". Meanwhile, President Zelensky of Ukraine indicated that he might not attend due to significant military meetings, but assured that Ukraine would be represented adequately.
French President Emmanuel Macron, along with his wife Brigitte, paid their respects at St. Peter's Basilica on Friday, taking a moment by the Pope's coffin before departing. Pope Francis is set to be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where preparations for his burial are underway.
In an interesting note about the burial, the marble slab that will mark the Pope's final resting place bears the inscription 'Franciscus', which some reports indicate may be made more visible before the burial. The stone, known as Finale Chiara, is a type of limestone that has been used for centuries in construction, including Roman bridges still in use today.
Initially, Pope Francis had declined the offer for burial in Santa Maria Maggiore but later changed his mind, expressing joy at the decision. In a touching story, Mauro Bergoglio, the Pope's nephew, shared how he could not afford a ticket to Rome for the funeral until a travel agency owner gifted him and his wife the trip, a story that has gone viral in Argentina.
As the world prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, the significance of this event resonates far beyond the walls of the Vatican, marking a moment of reflection for millions around the globe.
