Zelensky reportedly plans to attend Pope Francis's funeral
President Volodymyr Zelensky intends to attend Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican, as the preparations for the ceremony are underway, European Pravda reported on April 22, citing its undisclosed source.
Pope Francis died in his residence in Vatican City on Easter Monday on April 21 after a stroke and a cardiac arrest. The first Latin American pope was aged 88 at the time of his death and had led the Catholic Church since 2013.
The Presidential Office is awaiting the official date of the funeral while preparing Zelensky’s visit to “bid farewell to the pontiff,” European Pravda’s source said.
Attendance at the ceremony was previously confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, marking the first international trip of Trump’s second term.
The Vatican is yet to announce the official funeral date, though the ceremony is traditionally held four to six days after the pope’s death. It is to be held at St. Peter’s Square, with Pope Francis to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Zelensky previously met Pope Francis on Oct. 11, 2024, in the Vatican as part of his official tour in Europe, presenting the pontiff with an oil painting named “The Bucha Massacre – the Story of Marichka.” Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, was occupied by Russian troops shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and saw some of Russia’s worst atrocities against civilians during the war.
Pope Francis has often weighed in on the Russia-Ukraine war, condemning violence and urging a peaceful settlement. Some of his comments were a matter of controversy in Ukraine, as they were perceived as relativizing Russia’s responsibility in the war.
During Sunday prayer on Dec. 15, 2024, Pope Francis referred to Russia and Ukraine as “brothers,” while reiterating calls for peace.
Zelensky extended his condolences following the pope’s death, saying: “He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support."
The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan