King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will attend Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, April 26. The news was reported by the Belgian news agency “Belga“, reports BTA.
The funeral will be held in “St. Peter's Square” in Rome and will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Yesterday, the Belgian royal family expressed deep sorrow over the Pope's death. In a statement on social media, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde wrote: “He was a great man, close to the most vulnerable and deeply concerned about the problems of the world.“
The royal couple have had several personal meetings with Pope Francis, including during his visit to Belgium in September 2024.
Among the world leaders who have also confirmed their attendance at the ceremony are French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and believers are expected to gather in the square in front of “St. Peter“s Basilica.
After the mass, Pope Francis' coffin will be carried to the Basilica of “Santa Maria Maggiore” in the center of Rome, where he will be laid to rest according to his explicit will.
Sister Nathalie Becuar, undersecretary of the Belgian Synod of Bishops, commented from Rome: “The moment is very moving - filled with both sadness and gratitude for everything the Pope gave until the last day of his life.“ She added: “The Church is like a big family, and for those who knew the Pope closely and served him, this loss is personal.“
The cardinals are about to meet to organize the funeral and prepare for the upcoming conclave, which is expected to begin in early May. During it, the 135 cardinal electors will elect a new head of the Roman Catholic Church.