(NewsNation) — Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The service will be held at 4 a.m. ET in St. Peter’s Square. You can watch the funeral on NewsNation’s site and app.
The pontiff died of a stroke at age 88 on Easter Monday. He is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.
Although an official guest list has not yet been confirmed, the funeral will be attended by many dignitaries:
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump plan to attend Pope Francis’ funeral.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. We look forward to being there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The White House posted images on X of the president and first lady meeting with Francis in 2017 and Vice President JD Vance’s recent meeting, writing, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.”
The Biden family
On Friday, Biden family spokesperson Kelly Scully told NewsNation that former President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will also attend.
Prince William
The Prince of Wales will attend the pontiff’s funeral on behalf of King Charles III, according to the BBC.
President Andrzej Duda
The office of President Andrzej Duda said that Duda plans to attend the ceremony.
Poland has also declared a day of national mourning on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis.
Poland was the homeland of Pope John Paul II, whose death in 2005 prompted a national outpouring of grief. But the response has been more muted this time in a country that has become noticeably more secular.
Argentine President Javier Milei
Argentine President Javier Milei‘s attendance is expected.
Milei wrote on X on Monday, “Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me.”
Reuters reports the following world leaders will also attend Pope Francis’ funeral:
- British Prime Minister Keir Stramer
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula de Silva
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Hungarian Presidant Tamas Sulyok
- Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics
- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda
- Romanian Interim President Ilie Bolojan
- Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia
- Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter
- Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, Parliament President Roberta Metsola
- East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito Freitas
- Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Bart De Wever
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Author: Taylor Delandro
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