Trump, Biden, Macron And World Leaders Arrive In Rome For Pope Francis’ Funeral [Photos]

World leaders, dignitaries, and thousands of mourners have begun gathering at St. Peter’s Square in Rome to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.

Among those attending the funeral mass are U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Prince of Wales, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Irish President Michael D. Higgins is also present.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, made it to Rome on Saturday morning, despite earlier concerns that air strikes in Kyiv might disrupt their travel plans.

The open-air funeral is expected to draw around 500,000 people.

Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 on Monday shortly after greeting Easter crowds, had been lying in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica for three days.

Around 250,000 people came through to view his body before his coffin was sealed privately on Friday.

Speaking to the Associated Press, a group of nuns waiting in the square described Francis as a “saintly man” and “a man of peace” who always wished for peace across the world.

Sister Nilma Navarro from the Philippines called him “the most humble person” she had ever met, saying he reached out not just to Catholics but to people of other faiths as well.

Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru who arrived at the square by 7 a.m., said, “He was a very charismatic pope — so human and so kind.”

See some photos below:

KanyiDaily recalls that President Bola Tinubu sent a five-member team to represent Nigeria at Pope Francis’ funeral.