VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who was recently confirmed to have died of heart failure following a stroke early Monday morning, was set to be buried on Saturday at 10 a.m. with leaders from all over the world flying in to pay their respects, the Vatican has announced. 

 Many have paid their respects to the late Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was a truly novel and reformist pope, who in every act demonstrated a radical kindness, that touched the hearts of many, not just Catholics. The Vatican released the first photo of the former pontiff in his coffin as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, widely known as Francis’ number 2 and a public favourite to be the next pope, as he looks on at him. 

 Condolences have come from China and India, which is also not a famously catholic country has announced three days of mourning nationally for Francis. It has been confirmed that Ukranian Prime Minister, Volodymer Zelensky will attend the funeral, while the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin has stated that he will not be attending. Even Iranian government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani said during her press briefing that she expressed her condolences and that Francis had been “very active in preventing the killing of women and children around the world.”  President Trump tweeted that, “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” 

 The funeral is open to the public and all are free to attend. 

Pope Francis’s last words to his faithful nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, were a simple,”thank you for bringing me back to the square,” after seeing the crowds in the popemobile at the end of the Easter Urbi et Orbiblessing. According to Vatican sources, he had made sure that his carers believed he was up to it asking Strappetti, “do you think I can do it?”

 It was Pope Francis’ wish to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, instead of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican which, while being a more modest choice, is still a strikingly beautiful church. This decision is reflective of Bergoglio’s other rather notable choice to live in a small two-room apartment rather than the lavish papal apartments that had been enjoyed by Borgia and Medici popes in the past. 

 Tuesday Evening there was set to be a rosary in his honour at 7.30 p.m. in St. Peter's Square.

og