World Leaders to Attend Pope Francis’ Funeral on April 26 in Vatican City

VATICAN CITY, April 25, 2025 — Several political leaders, royals, and dignitaries from around the globe will gather in Vatican City on Saturday, April 26, for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.

Confirmed attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who announced their presence via Truth Social. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William, representing King Charles III, will also attend.

Latin America will be strongly represented, with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Argentine President Javier Milei both in attendance. Despite past tensions, Milei praised the Pope’s wisdom and declared seven days of national mourning in Argentina.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will lead the host nation’s delegation. Other key attendees include Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Leaders from predominantly Catholic countries such as Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin will also be present.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who credited the Pope for his prayers for peace, will attend alongside E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini.

Other notable attendees include U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

The funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of mourners to Vatican City, where Pope Francis has been lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. His passing has sparked a global outpouring of grief and tributes, honouring his legacy as a champion of peace, compassion, and social justice.

Source: TIME Magazine