A host of world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral on April 26, which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square outside St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, AFP reported.
Rosen Zhelyazkov will lead a delegation to attend Pope Francis' funeral
The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff died on April 21 of a stroke - less than a month after returning home after a five-week stay in hospital battling double pneumonia.
His funeral will take place at 10:00 local time (11:00 BST) on Saturday, April 26, in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. The pilgrimage begins today.
The Italian government announced a five-day national mourning period on 22 April.
Here's a list of expected VIP guests.
Americas
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will be in attendance. Trump said this in a social media post, "Looking forward to being there!"
President Javier Millay of Argentina, where the Pope was born in 1936, will attend, his office said. The pope has had a delicate relationship with politics in his homeland, but Miley welcomed his "wisdom."
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will attend with his wife, Gianna, his government said. Lula said Francis "vigorously criticized the economic models that have brought so much injustice to humanity."
UN
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the funeral, his office said.
Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, will travel to Rome.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend and Prince William will also go to represent head of state King Charles III.
Irish President Michael Higgins and his wife will travel to Rome for the ceremony, his office said, along with Prime Minister Michel Martin.
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will attend, the royal palace said. Felipe called the pontiff "a huge ethical beacon of our world, of our time."
French President Emmanuel Macron, who cut short a visit to the Indian Ocean region after the pope's death, told reporters, "We will attend the pope's funeral as we should."
Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also expected, as is President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will lead the German delegation. The incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not be present.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Francis had "prayed for peace in Ukraine", will attend with his wife, Olena Zelenska.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin, for whom the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant over his invasion of Ukraine, will not attend, the Kremlin said.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who has declared a day of national mourning for Saturday (26 April), will be among the mourners along with his wife.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever will attend, as will King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, who also has Argentine citizenship, will not travel due to the celebration of the King's birthday, although they are "deeply moved" by Francis' passing, the royal family said. Prime Minister Dick Schuff and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp will go to the funeral.
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro will lead a delegation to the ceremony.
Hungarian President Tamás Szulák has confirmed his attendance, as have Austrian Chancellor Christian Stöcker and Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Mussar, who will attend along with Prime Minister Robert Golob.
The Presidents of the three Baltic States, Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania, Edgars Rinkevics of Latvia and Alar Karis of Estonia, will be present.
Monaco's royal family has declared three days of mourning, and a palace source said Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will go to the funeral.
Other European countries sending leaders include the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.
Asia
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Laiza Marcos will attend the funeral, according to the palace press secretary. | BGNES