World leaders arrive in Rome as Vatican prepares for funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday

Heads of state and dignitaries are converging on Rome on Friday ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. 

The Vatican said that 130 delegations had confirmed attendance, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. 

US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are among those arriving on Friday. 

Trump, travelling with First Lady Melania Trump, is scheduled to arrive after Francis’ coffin has been sealed. 

Other confirmed attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Hungarian President Viktor Orbán. 

Notable absentees include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders have outstanding warrants from the International Criminal Court.

Paying respects

More than 90,000 people visited the basilica on Thursday to hisse respects to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday following a stroke at the age of 88. 

The Vatican extended the basilica’s opening hours overnight due to the large turnout. 

A group of poor and homeless people will meet the pope’s coffin before the funeral on Saturday, the Vatican said. 

His final resting place is being prepared within the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Pope Francis chose to be buried near an icon of the Virgin Mary that he often prayed before. 

The eligible cardinals will not begin the conclave to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church until at least 5 May. 

Cardinals have also been arriving in Rome. A total of 113 met on Thursday morning to discuss church business. They will meet again on Friday before a weekend break. 

“We are getting ready, but we still have not entered into the more intense phase. We are in the organisational phase,” Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni said on Thursday.