The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. Tiziana Fabi, AFP

The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peters Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. The Pope died of a stroke, the Vatican announced hours after the death on April 21, 2025, of the 88-year-old reformer who inspired devotion but riled traditionalists during 12 years leading the Catholic Church. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Pope Francis

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745420194834AFP__20250423__43877DH__v2__Preview__TopshotVaticanReligionPope.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. Tiziana Fabi, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. <em>Tiziana Fabi, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>PARIS, France -- Many world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis&#x27;s funeral on Saturday, which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square in front of St Peter&#x27;s Basilica at the Vatican.</p><p>Here is a list of the expected VIP guests.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/23/pope-francis-s-coffin-begins-procession-towards-saint-peter-s-basilica-1513">READ: Tens of thousands say goodbye to Pope Francis lying in state</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Americas -</strong></div><p>ARGENTINA: President Javier Milei.</p><p>The pope, who was born in Argentina in 1936, had a delicate relationship with politics in his homeland, but Milei hailed his &quot;wisdom&quot;.</p><p>BRAZIL: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife Janja.</p><p>Lula has said Francis &quot;vigorously criticised the economic models that have brought so much injustice to humanity&quot;.</p><p>UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.</p><p>UNITED STATES: President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.</p><p>Trump said in a social media post: &quot;We look forward to being there!&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Europe -</strong></div><p>AUSTRIA: Chancellor Christian Stocker.</p><p>BELGIUM: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Bart De Wever,</p><p>BULGARIA: Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov.</p><p>CROATIA: President Zoran Milanovic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.</p><p>Croatia declared Saturday a day of national mourning.</p><p>CZECH REPUBLIC: Prime Minister Petr Fiala.</p><p>ESTONIA: President Alar Karis.</p><p>EUROPEAN UNION: EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.</p><p>FINLAND: President Alexander Stubb.</p><p>FRANCE: President Emmanuel Macron.</p><p>Macron, who cut short a visit to the Indian Ocean region after the pope&#x27;s death, told reporters: &quot;We will attend the pope&#x27;s funeral as we should.&quot;</p><p>GERMANY: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.</p><p>Incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz will not attend.</p><p>GREECE: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.</p><p>HUNGARY: President Tamas Sulyok.</p><p>IRELAND: President Michael Higgins and his wife Sabina, plus Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin.</p><p>KOSOVO: President Vjosa Osmani.</p><p>LATVIA: President Edgars Rinkevics.</p><p>LITHUANIA: President Gitanas Nauseda.</p><p>MOLDOVA: President Maia Sandu.</p><p>MONACO: Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.</p><p>Monaco&#x27;s royal family has announced three days of mourning for the pope.</p><p>THE NETHERLANDS: Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.</p><p>King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima -- who also has Argentine nationality -- will not make the trip due to the king&#x27;s birthday celebrations despite being &quot;deeply moved&quot; by Francis&#x27;s passing, the royal family said.</p><p>NORTH MACEDONIA: President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.</p><p>NORWAY: Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.</p><p>POLAND: President Andrzej Duda and his wife.</p><p>PORTUGAL: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.</p><p>ROMANIA: Interim President Ilie Bolojan.</p><p>SLOVAKIA: President Peter Pellegrini.</p><p>SLOVENIA: President Natasa Pirc Musar, Prime Minister Robert Golob.</p><p>SPAIN: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.</p><p>Felipe called the pontiff &quot;an enormous ethical beacon of our world, of our time&quot;.</p><p>UKRAINE: President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska.</p><p>Zelensky said Francis had &quot;prayed for peace in Ukraine&quot;.</p><p>UNITED KINGDOM: Prince William representing head of state King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.</p><p>SWEDEN: King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Middle East -</strong></div><p>ISRAEL: Yaron Sideman, Ambassador to the Holy See.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Africa -</strong></div><p>CAPE VERDE: President Jose Maria Neves.</p><p>CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Asia -</strong></div><p>PHILIPPINES: <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/23/marcos-jr-to-attend-pope-francis-funeral-0918">President Ferdinand Marcos and first lady Liza Marcos.</a></p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q-bdTDTEyO0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Many world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.</p>

Many world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

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World leaders set to attend Pope Francis's funeral

World leaders set to attend Pope Francis's funeral

Agence France-Presse

Published Apr 23, 2025 10:57 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 24, 2025 02:07 AM PHT

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