World leaders gather in Rome as final funeral rites for Pope Francis begin

Rome was transformed into a solemn stage of global mourning on Saturday as world leaders, royals, and dignitaries converged on St. Peter’s Square for the final funeral rites of the late Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis.

The revered head of the Roman Catholic Church, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after battling stroke, coma, and heart failure, is being honored with a grand requiem mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Among the high-profile attendees spotted at the Vatican were Prince William of Britain; U.S. President Donald Trump alongside his wife, Melania; and former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Also present were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended with French First Lady Brigitte Macron.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and a host of other prominent figures from around the globe paid their respects during the moving ceremony.

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Other notable political leaders and royals at the funeral included: Poland’s President Andrzej Duda; Javier Milei, President of Argentina, Pope Francis’s home country; Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella; Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader; Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde; Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Others are Croatia’s President Zoran Milanović; Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa; Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin; Moldova’s President Maia Sandu; Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs; New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon; Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia; UN Secretary-General António Guterres; Queen Mary of Denmark and many other world leaders.

Security around the Vatican was extremely tight, with Italian authorities deploying thousands of officers to manage the influx of dignitaries and the anticipated massive crowd of mourners from around the world.

Today’s solemn mass will be followed by Pope Francis’s internment, marking the final farewell to a pontiff revered for his humility, compassion, and tireless advocacy for the marginalized.