President Droupadi Murmu to Attend Pope Francis’ Funeral in Vatican on April 26

Vatican City, April 25 — President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, to be held at 10:00 am local time (1:30 pm IST) on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. She will be representing the Government and people of India in offering condolences and paying respects to the late pontiff. She had arrived in Vatican City on April 25, leading a delegation that includes Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju; Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian; and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Joshua De Souza.

Alongside the President, dignitaries from Indian states will also be present to honour the legacy of the late pope. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has deputed Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare S.M. Nasar and DMK MLA from Tiruchi (East) Inigo S. Irudayaraj to represent the Tamil Nadu government at the funeral service.

The funeral is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including heads of state and representatives from across the world. The body of Pope Francis is currently lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the public has been paying tribute over a three-day period. He will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, in accordance with his final wishes for a simple burial marked only with the inscription “Franciscus.”

Source: The Hindu