In an international expression of remembrance, numerous global leaders are expected to assemble in Vatican City to bid their final farewell to Pope Francis. The Pope, who passed away on April 21 after celebrating Easter, succumbed to a cerebral stroke leading to a coma, followed by heart failure, as confirmed by the Vatican. At the age of 88, he left the world following an initial health complication of bronchitis escalating into bilateral pneumonia, which led to his hospitalization in a Roman medical facility for over a month in February and March.
Francis’ mortal remains have been laid out for public opinion in an event that lasted three days at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Preceding the solemn rites of his funeral, esteemed leaders from 160 countries, including 51 national heads and 12 reigning monarchs, are anticipated to show their presence. Simultaneously, the local authorities in Rome are bracing themselves to accommodate an estimated half a million people visiting the city for the event.
A contingent of heads of various nations have already confirmed their attendance at the April 26 service at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, demonstrating the impact of Pope Francis’ leadership. This gathering will also include a diverse spectrum of dignitaries and spiritual leaders from across the globe, coming together to pay homage to the inaugural Jesuit and Latin American Pope.
Previous events of such magnitude can be traced back to January 2023 with the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI, who passed away at age 95. Benedict’s death occurred roughly ten years after his surprising resignation—an unprecedented act marking the end of a papal reign in 600 years. Benedict was succeeded by Pope Francis, who will, in turn, have his succession decided upon in a conclave after his funeral.
According to Vatican records, the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI saw the attendance of approximately 50,000 individuals. Prominent attendees included the leaders of Italy and Germany, illustrating the influence of the papal office. Unlike Benedict, who was not the reigning pontiff at his time of death, Francis was in office when he passed. This indicates a different political and global context for his funeral.
The list of eminent attendees for Pope Francis’ funeral service continues to grow. Former U.S. President Donald Trump along with Melania Trump has confirmed their presence. U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will also be in Italy, marking their respect for the acts and interactions they shared with Pope Francis.
As the second Catholic president ever in the annals of American history (following John F. Kennedy), Biden maintained a productive association with Pope Francis. Their discussions in 2021 on pressing global issues like Covid-19 and climate change underpinned this relationship. Shortly before his term ended in January 2025, Biden honored Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in acknowledgement of his contributions.
United States Senator Susan Collins also revealed her plans to visit the funeral on April 25, leading a bipartisan group from the U.S. Senate to the solemn event. The delegation encapsulates the entire political spectrum with Senators Dick Durbin, Ed Markey, Mike Rounds, and Eric Schmitt confirming their intentions to join Collins.
From the monarchy of the United Kingdom, Prince William will honour Pope Francis in his father King Charles III’s stead. The prince’s confirmation came in a statement from Kensington Palace stating his intent to fulfill British tradition, as his father did during the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite the ongoing conflict in their homeland, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, along with his wife and first lady, Olena Zelenska, has committed to making the journey from Ukraine to Vatican City, underlining the global reverence for Pope Francis.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured his attendance at the funeral through a spokesperson. The Italian Prime Minister, owing to the geographical proximity, will also be paying his respects at the service in Vatican City.
Argentina, the birthplace of Pope Francis, will be represented by its President Javier Milei. The Pope’s Argentinian origins always made him a source of pride for his country, making Milei’s presence at the funeral emotionally significant.
The President of Brazil, the nation boasting the largest Catholic population globally, will also journey to Vatican City to honour Pope Francis. This affirms the tremendous influence of the pope even beyond the borders of the Vatican.
The President of France validated his attendance at the funeral, joining numerous other European leaders to show their respect for Francis in person. Ireland’s Taoiseach is also listed among the attendees, along with Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his spouse, further underscoring the Pope’s broad-reaching impact.
Additional global dignitaries slated to attend include Italian President Sergio Mattarella, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and European Union Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen. These diverse international figures, along with leaders from at least ten other European nations, symbolize the global reverence Pope Francis commanded.