ROME — The Vatican has confirmed that more than 130 foreign delegations will attend the funeral of Pope Francis this Saturday, including 50 sitting heads of state and 10 monarchs, in a remarkable show of global respect for a pope who reshaped the modern papacy.
The turnout, announced Thursday, reflects the broad impact of Francis’s leadership — one that reached well beyond the Catholic Church.
Among the dignitaries arriving in Rome are U.S. President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania, French President Emmanuel Macron, and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres. The United Kingdom will be represented by Prince William and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“Pope Francis stood for dialogue, compassion, and peace — principles we must now carry forward,” President Macron said in a statement ahead of his arrival.
The Vatican has not released an official guest list, but confirmations from various governments continue to pour in. Some are attending in full ceremonial delegations, while others are sending high-ranking envoys or cultural ministers.
From Africa, confirmed attendees include Cape Verde’s President José Maria Neves and the Central African Republic’s President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Asia will be represented by, among others, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos.
In Europe, the presence is particularly strong. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will be among those in attendance. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is also expected, along with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Notably, Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will not attend.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will represent the European Union.
Religious and diplomatic figures from the Middle East, including Israel’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Yaron Sideman, are also expected.
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, was the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to lead the Church. His death last week at age 88 has prompted tributes from across religious and political lines.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja have confirmed their travel to Rome, joining Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Honduras’ Xiomara Castro, highlighting the deep connections Francis maintained with Latin America throughout his papacy.
In an address to the nation, Lula described Francis as “a shepherd for the poor, a voice for justice, and a man of deep humility.”
The Vatican has said Saturday’s funeral will be a solemn and traditional affair, honouring Francis’s personal wishes for simplicity.
The event is expected to bring parts of central Rome to a standstill. Security has been tightened across the city, with road closures around St Peter’s Square already in place.
Church bells will toll in unison across the Catholic world on Saturday morning, marking the beginning of the final farewell to a pope remembered for challenging convention — and reminding the powerful of their moral duty.
