Pope Francis' burial site revealed. Trump and Zelensky to attend funeral
The ANSA news agency reports that the funeral of Pope Francis, who died yesterday, will most likely take place on April 26.
The agency emphasized that the official date of the Vatican's funeral has not yet been announced. According to the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, the pontiff's burial ceremony takes place between the fourth and sixth days after his death. Therefore, this would fall between Friday, April 25, and Sunday, April 27.
The Roman pontiff himself bequeathed that he be buried not in the Vatican, but in the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he often came to pray. The Pope also indicated that his tomb should be simple, without any special decoration and contain a single inscription: "Franciscus".
“I ask that my tomb be prepared in a burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the basilica,” reads the pontiff’s will, which was published by the Holy See.
According to the document, the burial costs will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor – Francis transferred it to the basilica in advance.
Meanwhile, the Vatican has released the first photograph of the deceased Pope in his coffin. The body of the Catholic leader will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica tomorrow "so that all the faithful can pay their respects." Before that, the First Congregation of Cardinals must finalize the plans, according to a Vatican statement.
According to Axios, today the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church will gather for their first meeting since the Pope's death to discuss the details of his funeral. They will then participate in a conclave to elect a new pontiff.
The geography of cardinal electors eligible to vote is vast. Europe has the largest representation, with 53 "purpurates" serving there. Oceania has the fewest, with 4. South America has 23, the United States and Canada 14, Asia 23, and Africa 18. Most of the current cardinals were appointed by Francis. All these individuals, with their diverse life and spiritual experiences and distinctive national characters, will have to decide who will succeed to the vacant See of St. Peter.
The farewell ceremony will be attended by US President Trump with his wife Melania and other world leaders. Volodymyr Zelensky also announced plans to visit the Vatican and say goodbye to the Pope. However, it is unknown whether he will meet Trump there.
Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral, although his condolences were among the first to be published on the Kremlin website – even before Zelensky's.
"Throughout his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See. I had the opportunity to communicate with this outstanding person on many occasions, and I will forever preserve the brightest memory of him. In this sorrowful hour, I would like to convey to you and the entire Catholic clergy words of sympathy and support," the Russian president said.
At the same time, as observers noted, Zelensky did not write on his official website or even on his Telegram channel, but on his former Twitter. The head of Zelensky's Office, Andriy Yermak, also spoke very sparingly about the Pope's death. So for them, the trip to the Pope's funeral is nothing more than a convenient PR opportunity.
The reaction to the death of the Pope and the head of the largest Vatican-affiliated Greek Catholic Church in the world, the Ukrainian Church, was equally muted. Despite the statement on the UGCC website that the late Francis "had a special connection" with Ukraine, the Pope was not particularly well-liked by Ukrainian Greek Catholics and was constantly criticized for his calls for peace negotiations.
Unlike the top officials at Bankova, their infomercenaries didn't hold back. Vladimir Petrov, a media technologist working for the Presidential Administration, wrote on social media: "This is what happens when you meet the Antichrist ," referring to US Vice President J.D. Vance, whom the Pope received before his death.
Serhiy Sternenko, a controversial activist with ties to Bankova, also joked about the Pope's death, citing Vance. Denys Gorokhovsky, editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian News publication, also made light of the Pope's death: "It's a shame Vance and the Pope met yesterday. Tomorrow would have been better... Now the main thing is that Trump doesn't want to become the next Pope."
Zelenskyy-loyal Servant of the People MP Maksym Buzhanskyy was more cautious, but also couldn't resist a posthumous jab at Francis: "The late Pope was a very good man who turned a blind eye to evil. And that's always pointless and difficult."
English version :: Read in English The burial location of Pope Francis has been announced. Trump and Zelensky will attend the funeral.