Who is going to the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican and who is not invited to the ceremony?

The death of Pope Francis has sparked a huge international outcry, with leaders from around the world confirming their attendance at the funeral to be held on Saturday, April 26, at St. Peter’s Basilica. This event marks the second papal burial in less than three years, following that of Benedict XVI in January 2023. The ceremony will be a moment of reflection and homage to the pontiff who dedicated his life to humility and the reform of the Catholic Church.

International Presence

Pope Francis’s burial ceremony will be attended by numerous heads of state and government, as well as religious leaders and representatives of social organizations and international institutions. Among those confirmed are U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Argentine President Javier Milei, accompanied by his sister Karina and several ministers. Also present will be Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja, as well as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

The list of attendees reflects the importance of Pope Francis on the international stage and his impact on global politics. In addition to the aforementioned leaders, leaders from Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and representatives of the European Union are expected to attend. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa have also confirmed their attendance.

Notable Absences

Despite the widespread attendance, some leaders have decided not to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. Among them is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who will send Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez to represent her. Sheinbaum highlighted Pope Francis’s humanist and progressive thinking and his constant efforts to reach out to the poor in a press conference.

Another absentee is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has chosen not to attend due to the current political situation and international tensions. Putin’s absence is significant, given Russia’s role in global politics and its historical relationship with the Catholic Church. It has also been confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the funeral, sending a high-level representative of the Chinese government in his place. Likewise, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not attend, as the King of Spain will attend as head of state and representative of Spain.

Preparations and Protocol

The Vatican has activated a protocol that has been followed for centuries for the death of a pontiff. It all began with medical confirmation of the death, followed by the official announcement and the unfolding of funeral rites that extend over several days. Pope Francis’ funeral will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, and is expected to be attended by a large number of faithful and a high-level diplomatic and ceremonial operation.

The ceremony will be presided over by Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who is also responsible for organizing the conclave that will elect the new pope. This process will begin after the Novedials, the nine-day period of Masses for the soul of the deceased pope. According to Vatican regulations, the conclave must not be convened during the Novedials nor can it extend beyond the twentieth day after the pontiff’s death.

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