Putin skips Pope Francis's funeral; Trump, Zelensky to attend
Vladimir Putin does not plan to attend Pope Francis's funeral, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced. Among those who have confirmed their participation in the ceremony are Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
What you need to know
- Vladimir Putin does not plan to travel to Pope Francis's funeral - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced.
- Decision on the Russian delegation's participation in the ceremonies is pending. Peskov noted that once the decision is made, the media will be informed.
- Pope Francis's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. The solemn funeral Mass for the Bishop of Rome, Francis, will begin at 10 AM, the Vatican announced.
Putin will not appear in Vatican City
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. "No, the president has no such plans," Peskov told reporters.
However, this does not mean that a Russian delegation will not appear in Vatican City.
Russian delegation at the ceremonies?
Dmitry Peskov noted that a decision has not yet been reached concerning the Russian delegation attending Pope Francis’s funeral. He told reporters that there was currently nothing to announce, but once the delegation’s makeup is finalized, the public will be informed.
The Vatican announced the date of Francis's funeral
The funeral date was decided on Tuesday during the first congregation of cardinals, which is their assembly.
Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26 - the Vatican press office announced on Monday.
According to the norms of the apostolic constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis" by John Paul II from 1996, the pope's funeral takes place between the fourth and sixth day after death.
What you need to know about the pope's death
The pope's death triggers a precisely planned sequence of actions to ensure the continuity of the Church's functioning and a dignified farewell to its leader. Just the day before his death, Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to give his blessing Urbi et Orbi, and then got into the popemobile to tour the square for a long time – as it turned out, this was his last public appearance.
Immediately after the death is confirmed, specific rituals begin – the body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, and the person serving as the camerlengo says the pope's name three times and touches his forehead with a silver hammer, which symbolically confirms the death of the Church's head.
The camerlengo – currently American Cardinal Kevin Farrell – is responsible for taking control of the Vatican at this time, which includes destroying the Fisherman's Ring and coordinating preparations for the conclave, the election of a new pope.
The conclave begins a few days after the funeral and is conducted in strict secrecy – the cardinal-electors are locked in the Sistine Chapel and vote until a new head of the Church is chosen, according to time-honored procedure and precise protocol.
