Who will be at the Pope's funeral - and who won't be

The Pope's funeral will take place on Saturday 27 April at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Who will be at the Pope's funeral - and who won't be

A pope's funeral traditionally brings world leaders together, and some have already revealed they are attending.

Here's a look at the list so far.

 

Donald Trump

The US president was one of the first to confirm he would be flying to Rome, adding he would be joined by First Lady Melania Trump.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, he said: "Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!"

The Pope had been critical of Mr Trump at times during his tenure.

In January, he said it would be a "disgrace" if the president went ahead with his crackdown on immigration, telling an Italian television station: "It would make the migrants, who have nothing, pay the unpaid bill.

"It doesn't work. You don't resolve problems this way."

 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian president, who met the Pope three times, also plans to attend, according to a source in his office.

In his tribute, Mr Zelenskyy said his country was grieving the Pope and recalled how he often prayed for peace in Ukraine.

 

Emmanuel Macron

The French president told local reporters he would be going to the funeral.

In his tribute on Monday, Mr Macron said of the Pope: "In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile."

 

Javier Milei

The president of Pope Francis's native Argentina will attend, despite having launched insults at Francis in recent years.

Before taking office in December 2023, the far-right politician called him "an imbecile, the representative of evil on Earth".

Mr Milei alluded to their "differences" in his tribute to the late Pope, writing: "It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace.

"Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me."

 

Lula da Silva

The Brazilian president and first lady Janja Lula da Silva will be at the funeral, the country's government announced.

Brazil has also declared a seven-day mourning for the Pope.

"Humanity is today losing a voice of respect and welcome for others," the president said in his tribute.

"Pope Francis lived and propagated in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity that are the basis of Christian

teachings."

 

Ursula von der Leyen

The EU Commission President confirmed she would be attending after calling Francis a worldwide inspiration.

"He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate," she said in her tribute.

   

Who won't be there?

Vladimir Putin

The Russian president will not be attending the funeral, the Kremlin has confirmed.

But the controversial leader paid tribute to the Pope, writing a message to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is interim chief of the Catholic Church.

"Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis," Mr Putin said.

"Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian

Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See."

-SKY NEWS