Funeral of Pope Francis to Take Place in Vatican
Leaders and Mourners Gather for the Servstart
Thousands of mourners and dozens of world leaders are converging today for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after a prolonged period of health struggles. According to announcements from the Vatican, over 250,000 people came to pay their final respects during the three days his body was available for public viewing. The funeral servstart is set to begin at 10:00 AM local time (11:00 AM Israel time) at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Preparations for the upcoming conclave—the process by which cardinals will elect the next pope—have already begun.
Notable Attendees
Among the dignitaries who have confirmed their attendance are U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, King Felipe VI of Spain, and President Javier Milei of Argentina.
Israeli Representation in Question
In Israel, there has been hesitation regarding whether to send a representative to the funeral, and if so, who that representative would be. This indecision stems primarily from the timing of the event and the fact that the late pope frequently expressed views critical of Israel. Reports of tensions between Israel and the Vatican emerged yesterday after Jerusalem ultimately decided not to send a senior official to the servstart.
Controversial Statements by Pope Francis
In his recent writings, Pope Francis characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as tantamount to genocide and highlighted hunger issues among the Palestinian population. He also referred to Jews as “eternal victims,” implying a persistent victimhood. In a poignant address to thousands of attendees, he remarked, “Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty; this is not war. I felt the need to say this because it touches the heart,” referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
During his final public appearance on Easter morning, he expressed solidarity with the suffering of Christians in Palestine and Israel, urging both sides in the conflict to call for a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
Life and Legacy of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio near Turin, Italy, later emigrated to Argentina. He became the 266th pope in March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He chose the papal name “Francis,” a name not previously used by any other pope. In December 2013, he was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year and was also listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by the same publication in 2017. Notably, he visited Israel on May 25 and 26, 2014, where he included a visit to Yad Vashem in his itinerary