Who will attend Pope Francis’ funeral?

24 Apr 2025 • 9:35 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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A large array of world leaders, cardinals and hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend Pope Francisfuneral on Saturday.

It is set to start at 9am UK time in St Peter’s Square after a three-day-period of lying in state where the public can pay tribute to the Pope.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

Pope Francis, 88, died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican announced.

The pope was hospitalised for several weeks in February, after suffering from double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recover.

The first pope from Latin America, Pope Francis led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.

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Here’s who we know is coming so far:

Royal Families

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World leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would not attend the funeral