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.”
KanyiDaily recalls that President Bola Tinubu sent a five-member team to represent Nigeria at Pope Francis’ funeral.
Iran has announced another closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the continued presence of…
Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has broken his silence about the child custody issue involving his…
Nigerian comedian Klintoncod has slammed celebrity barman Cubana Chief Priest over his conduct during the…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of its leader, Nnamdi…
A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has ruled that Adenike Oluwayemisi Ajayi is the…
Family members, friends, and colleagues of late Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo gathered in his hometown…