Pope Francis: Whoever comes to his funeral – and who does not

Pope Francis’s death triggered great grief all over the world. Not only Catholics, but also many heads of state and government commemorate the top of the church. And since the Pope, in addition to the Catholic Church with the Vatican City, also leads the smallest state in the earth, his burial is also a political event.

Numerous international state guests are therefore expected to burial on Saturday. The executive Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier represent Germany. Steinmeier, himself Protestant, had hit the Pope several times. After his death, he praised Francis as a “important Pope”. In addition, the Bundestag president Julia KlöcknerFederal Council President Anke Rehlinger and the president of the Federal Constitutional Court, Stephan HarbarthBe part of the German delegation.

The designated Chancellor and Catholic Friedrich Merz On the other hand, will not travel to Rome. This was agreed with Scholz and Steinmeier, said a CDU spokesman. With Ursula von der Leyen Another top German politician will also take part in the ceremony. As an EU Commission President, she represents the European Union. Also EU Council President António Costa welcome.

For Donald Trump the death of the Pope means an unforeseen event for the first trip abroad of his second term. The relationship between the two men was tense, Francis had significantly criticized Trump several times during his first term. Trump’s Vice President JD Vance was the last guest of state that the Pontifex received the day before his death.

In the Vatican it also becomes an encounter between Donald Trump and Wolodymyr Selenskyj come. The last meeting of the presidents of the United States and Ukraine in the Oval Office ended in a historical scandal. Selenskyj wants together With his wife Olena come to the funeral. Trump also wants Wife Melania bring along.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin on the other hand, do not travel to the funeral. “The president does not have such plans,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow. Putin may also fear a arrest: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him in 2023. This could be enforced via Italy when entering the Vatican.

Other heads of government who have announced themselves for the funeral of Pope Francis are among others the French President Emmanuel MacronPoland’s president Andrzej Duda and the British Prime Minister Keir Strander. Spain’s king Felipe VI. and queen Letizia are also expected, the English royal family is through Prince William represent. From Argentina, the home country of Francis, travels President Javier Milei to pay the last honor to the late Pope.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after a stroke. Unlike his predecessors, he did not want to be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica. Francis had that his remains in the papal basilica Santa Maria Maggiore should be buried.