World Leaders Gather in Rome as Mourners Bid Farewell to Pope Francis (PHOTOS)

Global leaders and tens of thousands of mourners are converging on Rome ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

As reported by the Vatican Press Office, 130 delegations have confirmed attendance at Saturday’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. Attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump and Prince William, as well as Argentine President Javier Milei, who are expected to arrive in Rome Friday evening.

From Ireland, the head of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin, and President Michael D. Higgins are among those making the journey, according to Irish government sources.

According to Reuters, nearly 130,000 people have paid their respects during Pope Francis’s lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, with the basilica kept open through the night to accommodate mourners. His coffin will be sealed privately on Friday evening ahead of the funeral.

People queue to enter St. Peter’s Basilica to pay respects, as Pope Francis lies in state, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

In a gesture reflecting Francis’s lifelong commitment to the marginalized, the Vatican announced that a group of poor and needy people will be present on the steps of the basilica to honor him. Additionally, Italian prison officials stated some inmates may be granted permission to attend the funeral.

After the ceremony, Francis’s body will be transported for burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as requested by the late pope, according to the Vatican. The tomb is being prepared behind a wooden barrier near an icon of the Madonna he frequently prayed before.

Pope Francis’ body is carried in a coffin into Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on the day of its translation, at the Vatican, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Cardinals, meanwhile, have begun preparations for the next conclave, expected to begin after a nine-day mourning period. According to Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the Church is still in its “organizational phase” ahead of the selection of Francis’s successor.