World leaders arrive for Pope’s funeral as 150,000 mourners pay respects

By Ella Bennett

World leaders are arriving for the funeral of Pope Francis, as the final mourners have been slowly filing past the coffin, which will sit in front of the Papal Altar until the funeral on Saturday.

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Around 150,000 people have passed by Francis’s coffin as he lay in state over the past three days in St Peter’s Basilica.

Irish President Michael D Higgins was among those to pay his respects on Friday, ahead of his attendance at Saturday’s requiem mass.

He will join his nation’s premier Micheal Martin, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Prince of Wales – who is attending on behalf of the King – US President Donald Trump and a vast array of other leaders and dignitaries.

The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, has predicted the funeral will be a “masterpiece” in stage-managing “big egos”.

A Vatican spokesperson has confirmed Francis’s birth country of Argentina, then Italy will take precedence.

Thereafter, reigning sovereigns will be seated “in alphabetical order, but in French language”, followed by heads of state.

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Cardinal Nichols, who will take part in his first conclave to elect a new pope in the coming weeks, said the funeral organisers are well-used to dealing with the sensitivities of such big events.

He said the funeral will be “without a doubt another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance”.

He added: “In the past, I’ve seen it here over and over again that the combination of Rome and the Holy See, they actually are geniuses at dealing with these big events.

“I think they’ve been doing it since the emperors ruled Rome – that they know how to deal with big egos.

“And I think every leader of a nation that comes here on Saturday will go home reasonably content.”

Ireland’s delegation comes ahead of both Prince William and the British Government delegation in the official order of precedence, because it is led by head of state Mr Higgins.

It falls between groups from Indonesia and Iceland, also led by those countries’ heads of state.

Haakon, the Prince of Norway, and William follow soon after in a category set aside for crown princes.

The British Government delegation includes Sir Keir Starmer, his wife Victoria, as well as Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

It is listed between groups from Qatar and Serbia, led by those countries’ heads of government.

Scaffolding has been erected to provide international media with the best vantage points overlooking St Peter’s Square for a funeral expected to be watched around the world.

While there has been a livestream inside the basilica since Wednesday, this will be stopped for the closing of the coffin, which has been described as a “private act”.

Following Saturday’s open-air funeral in the square, Francis’s remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions.

The Vatican said a group of “poor and needy” people will be present on the steps leading to the basilica to pay their last respects before the interment of the coffin, in a nod to Francis’s particular care for the downtrodden.