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… and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend the funeral, presidency source told AFP.
Expect the diplomatic list to grow rapidly in the coming days, with most countries sending their heads of state or government to pay tribute to Francis – creating potential space for high-level meetings on the margins of the funeral.
French president Emmanuel Macron also just confirmed he would attend the funeral, speaking to reporters in Saint-Denis de la Reunion, where he is on a foreign trip.
“We will attend the pope’s funeral as we should,” he said, AFP reported.
US president Donald Trump said overnight that he was planning to travel to Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis, expected later this week.
In a post on Truth Social, he said:
Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!
Let’s start the day by bringing you front pages from around Europe and beyond as newspapers reported on the death of Pope Francis – including in Italy and his native Argentina.
Front page of the Italian Corriere della Sera daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Corriere della Sera
Front page of the Argentinian Clarín daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Clarín
Front page of the French Libération daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Libération
Front page of the Spanish ABC daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: ABC
Front page of the Portuguese Publico daily following the death of Pope Francis,as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Publico
Front page of the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Gazeta Wyborcza
Front page of the Guardian daily following the death of Pope Francis, as printed on 22 April 2025. Photograph: Guardian
Jakub Krupa
Following the death of Pope Francis at 88 yesterday, the papacy is currently vacant, or as they call it in Vatican, we’re in the sede vacante period.
People stand outside St Peter’s Square, following the death of Pope Francis, in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
But first decisions are set to be made today about the process that will first pay tribute to Francis’s life of service, and ultimately lead to the election of his successor.
While the 88-year-old left clear instructions on where he would want to be buried – in St. Mary Major basilica outside the Vatican – the critical timeline of what happens when is to be decided by the cardinals.
The Congregation of Cardinals is expected to make first calls today, including on when his body would lie in state, and when the funeral would take place, kicking off a complex diplomatic operation which will see scores of global leaders descend on Rome and Vatican.
The clock is also starting for the conclave which will ultimately elect the new pope, which must begin 15-20 days after the death of the previous head of the Catholic church. Expect to hear more about papabili, those expected to be in the running to succeed Francis.
I will bring you all the key updates throughout the day.
It’s Tuesday, 22 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
