Pope Francis' funeral will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Following a Mass, his coffin will be transported to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he will be buried according to his wishes.
The funeral is expected to draw an estimated 200,000 mourners and 170 official delegations from around the world, according to Italy’s Ministry of the Interior.
Italian authorities have already imposed extraordinary security measures in Rome, with intensified checks beginning Wednesday, when the Pope’s coffin will be displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.
"All necessary measures will be deployed" to ensure the smooth running of the event, said Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi after a security committee meeting on Tuesday.
The funeral coincides with Italy’s national celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s liberation on April 25.
Leaders from across the globe will be in attendance. Among the confirmed dignitaries are US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, along with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Also expected are Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Argentine President Javier Milei, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Ilie Bolojan, currently acting president of Romania.
Portugal will be represented by both President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
Other attending heads of government include Olaf Scholz of Germany, Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic, and Bart De Wever of Belgium.
The funeral will also be attended by top leaders of the European Union: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Antonio Costa, President of the European Council; and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.
Royal families will be represented by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Prince William, heir to the British throne.
Polish president, parliamentary Speaker to attend
Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda, along with lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia, will also travel to Rome.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Vladimir Putin does not plan to attend. Putin is subject of an international arrest warrant related to war crimes in Ukraine.
Due to the expected crowds and the presence of global dignitaries, St. Peter’s Square will be surrounded by a tight security cordon.
Police units with sniffer dogs, military bomb disposal teams and rooftop snipers will be on duty. All attendees will undergo thorough security checks before entering the square.
Italy’s Civil Defense agency will coordinate the reception of pilgrims and ensure that necessary assistance is available throughout the day.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP