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Date Published: 23/04/2025

Trump and Starmer, yes; Sánchez, no: The only major world leader not to attend the Pope's funeral

Spain will instead be represented by its royal family and other senior government officials

Spanish President Pedro Sánchez will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis this Saturday April 26 in Rome, making him the only leader of a major Western country to forgo the historic ceremony. Spain will instead be represented by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied by several high-ranking government officials.

The Spanish delegation will include Vice-Presidents María Jesús Montero and Yolanda Díaz, Minister of the Presidency Félix Bolaños, and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Despite the absence of Sánchez, Bolaños assured the public earlier this week that Spain’s representation would reflect the nation’s affection for the pontiff and its strong institutional relationship with the Holy See.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday 21 at the age of 88, will be laid to rest following a funeral mass at 10am on Saturday in St Peter’s Square. The service will be led by Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and attended by a significant number of global dignitaries.

Notable leaders who have confirmed their attendance include US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Walter Steinmeier along with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and António Costa will also be present, alongside UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

From Latin America, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the firebrand Argentine President Javier Milei will attend, with the latter paying a personal tribute to the first pope from his homeland. Other confirmed attendees include the presidents of the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Hungary and Ireland.

Representing the British royal family, Prince William will travel to Rome, continuing a precedent set by King Charles III, who attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Ahead of the funeral, the Pope’s body will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica from this Wednesday morning. A prayer ceremony, led by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the current camarlengo, will mark the beginning of the public homage. The Vatican has outlined the ceremonial proceedings, which include a procession through key areas of the Vatican before culminating at the basilica’s Altar of Confession.

In accordance with canon law, the funeral must occur within six days of the Pope’s death. Following the mass, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as per his final wishes.

The funeral will be broadcast live on the Vatican’s official YouTube channel, offering the faithful around the world an opportunity to say farewell to a pontiff whose influence extended far beyond the Catholic Church.

Now read: Could the next Pope come from Spain? These are the candidates...

Images: Giorgi Meloni & Vatican News

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