First Lady Olena Zelenska and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be among the dignitaries attending Pope Francis’s burial, which is set for this Saturday at Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square.
The Holy See Press Office affirmed Tuesday that the funeral Mass will start on April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will lead the ceremony, with participation from senior clergy members representing the global Catholic community.
It was reported that the 88-year-old pontiff passed away on Monday, following a stroke.
His death came just weeks after he had been discharged from the hospital, where he was treated for a severe case of double pneumonia.
According to AFP, in a brief to journalists on Tuesday, a senior advisor to President Zelensky, Dmytro Lytvyn, stated that the Ukrainian leader and his wife would be present at the solemn event to pay their respects.
“Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, set for Saturday,” he stated.
President Zelensky had earlier expressed his condolences, describing Pope Francis as a spiritual leader who consistently “prayed for peace in Ukraine.”
