Who is attending Pope Francis’s funeral? Donald Trump, Prince William, leaders of the world head to Rome

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, including many world leaders, Catholic officials and mourners from around the world.

Here’s a look at who is expected to attend:

President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump, who had clashed with Francis during his first and second terms in the White House, said Monday that he and First Lady Melania Trump would be in attendance.

“We look forward to being there!” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, before the Vatican confirmed the date of the funeral.

In 2005, then-President George W. Bush attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II, along with former President Bill Clinton. Then-President Joe Biden did not attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2023.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street confirmed that the British leader was planning to be at the funeral, after praising Francis on Monday as a “pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”

President Emmanuel Macron

Speaking to reporters while travelling overseas, President Macron said he would be in attendance, “as expected.” Mr Macron had met with Francis several times over his presidency, most recently at the end of last year in Corsica.

President Volodymyr Zelensky

The Ukrainian President confirmed that he would be travelling to Vatican City with Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, on Saturday for the funeral. Francis had been outspoken in calling for peace in Ukraine. The two leaders met several times following Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, most recently in October.

President Javier Milei

The President of Argentina, where Francis was born and grew up, announced a week-long period of mourning. Although Mr Milei had been harshly critical of Francis in the past, he expressed his grief Monday, saying their differences now seemed “minor.”

Prince William

The Prince of Wales will attend Francis’ funeral on behalf of his father, King Charles, according to Kensington Palace. Charles and Queen Camilla met privately with Francis in Italy earlier this month.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

The monarchs of Spain, a highly Catholic nation, said they would attend, according to local media, their first papal funeral after Felipe’s mother went to Benedict XVI’s funeral in 2023.

EU leaders

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Council President, António Costa, are set to travel to Rome, their offices said.

Members of the Catholic Church

Some of the 135 cardinal electors who will choose the next Pope will also help lead Francis’ funeral on Saturday. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, will lead a prayer at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, before a funeral procession to St Peter’s. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re of Italy, will preside over a public Mass on Saturday.

Other global leaders

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said it would send an envoy.

The Kremlin’s chief spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said President Vladimir Putin did not plan to attend, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.

China’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it had “no information” available about plans for a delegation.

Lily Kuo, Samantha Schmidt, Beatriz Rios and Serhiy Morgunov contributed to this report.

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