Prince William will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on behalf of King Charles. The Prince of Wales will travel to Vatican City in Rome for the service on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square outside St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Prince Of Wales Represents The Future Head Of The Church Of England
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also attend. Kensington Palace confirmed the news earlier today. The ceremony will also be attended by several other world leaders, royal families, and more.
The leader of the Catholic Church passed away on Monday morning from a stroke after suffering from double pneumonia.
His death came less than 24 hours after he delivered his Easter message on Sunday. His doctors advised against it, but he was devoted to his calling. He died early Monday morning.
News of the Pope’s death came through a statement from the Vatican. The message was delivered by His Eminence Cardinal Farrell. He declared that the pontiff had “returned to the house of the father.”
William’s attending the state funeral falls in line with modern tradition, as Charles attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in April 2005, when he was the Prince of Wales.
Charles had to postpone his wedding to Camilla by one day so that he and others could attend. The decision to have William represent the British royal family demonstrates him taking on more responsibilities as the future King and head of the Church of England.
On Sunday, the Pope had dinner, and not long after, he showed the first indications of illness. He waved to his nurse in what the media describes as a “gesture of farewell” before he fell into a coma. He was found deceased the following morning.
Prince William Will Join Other World Leaders To Pay Their Respects
Prince William and the Prime Minister will join other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who clashed repeatedly with the Pope as the pontiff’s disapproval and criticism of Trump’s mass deportation program were well-documented.
King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the Pope on April 9. They were on a state visit to Italy and met with the Pope privately. His Holiness wished the King and Queen a happy 20th wedding anniversary.
A senior palace official said of the King and Queen’s visit to Italy, “I think outside of the official program, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit with the Pope. Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment.”
Charles met with Pope Francis twice as the Prince of Wales, but the visit in April was his first as monarch and Head of the Church of England.
The King first met the Pope in April 2017, and the Head of the Catholic Church presented the then-Prince of Wales with a bronze sculpture of an olive branch in a white box and told him that it was a symbol of peace. “Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace,” he told Charles.
In his final will, Francis expressed his wish to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica. The Basilica is outside the Vatican and the location of his favorite image of the Virgin Mary.
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