All the World Leaders Attending Pope Francis' Funeral, From Prince William to Trump
Notable names from around the world will pay their respects to Pope Francis after his death at the age of 88.
Several world leaders, dignitaries, royal family members, and devout Catholics will gather in the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
Following the pope’s death at the age of 88 and three days of public mourning, an official funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26 in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis had previously expressed his wishes for a more simplified funeral. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of liturgical ceremonies, explained (via the Associated Press) that the ceremony will “emphasize even more that the Roman Pontiff’s funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world.”
The list of attendees planning to pay their respects at Pope Francis’ funeral proves just how far his reach was and the legacy he leaves behind as the head of the Catholic Church for the past 12 years.
RELATED: Susan Boyle Singing "I Dreamed a Dream" for Pope Francis Will Stand the Test of Time
Read on for more details you who’s expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, when it will take place, and how to watch.
Who’s attending Pope Francis’ funeral?
Many world leaders and royal family members have announced their plans to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. NBC reports the following names are expected at the service outside St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican:
- President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
- Prince William
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska
- E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- President of Argentina Javier Milei
- Brazilian President Lula Da Silva and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva
- U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- Ireland's President Micheal Higgins and his wife, Sabina Coyne
- Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin
- Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
- President of Poland Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda
- Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever
- Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
- Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok
- Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker
- Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob
- Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene
- President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterre
- Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
- Prime Minister of Portugal Luis Montenegro
- President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda
- President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics
- President of Estonia Alar Karis
Several of the pope's big name funeral attendees confirmed their plans to attend through statements issued to the media or on social media, including President Trump. “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” the president posted on Truth Social on April 21.
Additionally, Kensington Palace confirmed to Vanity Fair that Prince William will travel to the Vatican to attend the pope's funeral services on behalf of his father, King Charles III.
When is Pope Francis’ funeral?
The pope's funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in St. Peter's Square, which is located in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
RELATED: Jimmy Fallon Describes the "Overwhelming" Experience of Meeting Pope Francis
How to watch Pope Francis’ funeral
You can watch Pope Francis' funeral live on NBC News on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time. Tune into your local NBC channel at 4 a.m. ET or 1 a.m. PT to watch the funeral coverage live.
NBC News' coverage will also be available to stream via NBC News NOW. You can find NBC’s 24/7 live news stream on YouTube, the NBC app, and Peacock.
