Heads of state and dignitaries are assembling in Rome ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, with 130 delegations confirmed to attend including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. Among those arriving on Friday are US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Notable absentees include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of whom have outstanding warrants from the International Criminal Court.
Over 90,000 people visited the basilica on Thursday to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 following a stroke. The Vatican extended the basilica’s opening hours overnight to accommodate the large turnout. A group of poor and homeless individuals will have the opportunity to pay their respects before the funeral on Saturday. Pope Francis’ final resting place is being prepared within the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he will be buried near an icon of the Virgin Mary that he often prayed before.
The conclave to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church will not begin until at least May 5, with eligible cardinals arriving in Rome for the selection process. A total of 113 cardinals met on Thursday morning to discuss church business, with plans to meet again on Friday before taking a weekend break. Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni noted that they are in the organizational phase of preparing for the conclave.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
