The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, paid her honors on Wednesday (23) to Pope Francis, attending the funeral of the Pontiff in the Basilica of St. Peter.
Earlier, speaking before the Italian Parliament, Meloni reflected on his personal connection with the pontiff. “I will always be grateful to Pope Francis for the time we go together, for his teachings, for his advice,” she said.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein also visited the Basilica to honor the late church leader.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday after suffering a stroke and heart failure, the Vatican said, ending a pontificate in which he sought to reform the old and divided institution.
He was 88 years old and suffered from bilateral pneumonia this year, but his death surprised many people, as he had appeared the day before in St. Peter’s Square.
Francisco also walked at the open Paparmobile to greet the crowd at a party on Easter Sunday, suggesting that he was improving.
The Pope’s body will be in St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday night (25), allowing the faithful to pay their honors.
The funeral is scheduled for Saturday (26) and will gather heads of state and government from around the world, including US President Donald Trump, who has fell out with the Pope on social issues such as immigration.
Javier Milei, president of Argentina, Francisco’s home country, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should also attend.
See images of Pope Francis’ life:
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This content was originally published in Prime Minister of Italy goes to the wake and honors Pope Francis on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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