Pope Francis's funeral is set for Saturday at 10 am local time in Vatican City, expected to draw hundreds of thousands, including key global leaders like US President Trump and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Notably, the ceremony will be simpler compared to previous papal funerals, aligning with Francis's reformed approach emphasizing discipleship over earthly power. Papal funerals also serve significant diplomatic roles, attracting leaders due to the pope's influence on over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, as seen previously with Pope John Paul II's historic funeral.
US President Trump, UN Secretary-General Guterres, and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy confirm attendance at Pope Francis's simpler funeral, reflecting its unique diplomatic dimension.
Last year, the pope amended funeral rites to emphasize his role as a disciple of Christ, shifting away from the notion of a worldly power.
Papal funerals attract significant attendance from global leaders due to the pope's position as the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy See.
Pope John Paul II's funeral in 2005 is noted as one of the largest gatherings of world leaders, setting a precedent for such ceremonies.
Collection
[
|
...
]