Presidents, prime ministers and royalty are preparing to travel to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, which will be the most prominent gathering of world leaders since President Trump’s inauguration in January.
The funeral on Saturday will cap almost a week of mourning for Francis, whose advocacy for migrants, the poor, the marginalized and those suffering under war often put him directly at odds with some of the powerful people who will pay their respects to him inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis had openly criticized some world leaders, like Mr. Trump, and faced stinging criticism from others, like President Javier Milei of Argentina, who once dismissed his countryman, the first pope from Latin America, as a “filthy leftist.”
Francis’ funeral will be Mr. Trump’s first foreign trip in his second term, and his first time seeing many of his global peers since he began to shake the world order with steep tariffs, erratic policy swings and dramatic deportations.
Mr. Milei’s office said on Tuesday that he would attend the funeral of Francis, a proud Argentine seen by many as a national hero. A far-right libertarian, Mr. Milei and the pope appeared to smooth over some issues last year.
Here are some other leaders who plan to attend:
Britain
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, and Prince William, the heir to the throne
Prince William will attend on behalf of his father, King Charles III, Kensington Palace said in a statement on Tuesday. King Charles and Queen Camilla had met with Francis earlier this month.Mr. Starmer, the head of the British government, described Francis’ leadership as “courageous” and noted his concern for “the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten” in a post on X.
Italy
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Ms. Meloni led tributes to Francis on Monday, praising him as “a great man and a great pastor.” She also visited him while he was in the hospital. “I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering,” she said.
Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky
A top aide to Mr. Zelensky told a Ukrainian news agency that the president planned to attend the funeral, potentially setting up his first interaction with President Trump since their tense Oval Office meeting in March. “He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity,” Mr. Zelensky wrote on X in tribute to Francis. “He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”
France
President Emmanuel Macron
Mr. Macron praised Francis for standing alongside “the most vulnerable and the most fragile,” and cut short a trip to the Indian Ocean region after the pope’s death.
Brazil
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country, is holding seven days of mourning for Francis. Mr. Lula remembered the pope for his smile and his faith in a brighter future in a post on X.
Poland
President Andrzej Duda
The president’s international affairs adviser confirmed that Mr. Duda and his wife would attend. “Throughout his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity,” Mr. Duda, who is Catholic and leads a deeply Catholic country, wrote in a tribute to Francis on X.
Other leaders
Germany: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Spain: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
Latvia: President Edgars Rinkevics
United Nations: Secretary General Antonio Guterres
European Commission: Ursula von der Leyen
Diego Ribadeneira and Mark Landler contributed reporting.
Amelia Nierenberg is a breaking news reporter for The Times in London, covering international news.
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