Irish church and state leaders travel for Pope Francis’s funeral

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland and Irish President Michael D Higgins are among those travelling to Rome on Friday ahead of the Pope’s funeral.

Fifty heads of state and 10 sovereigns have confirmed their attendance at the funeral, including Donald Trump and Prince William.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill has cut short a family holiday as talks take place over a potential invite.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Catholic Primate of All Ireland, celebrated Mass at Armagh’s St Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday night ahead of travelling to Rome, in a special service to celebrate the life of the Pope.

He said Francis’s papacy was a “profound gift to the Church”.

In Rome, people are expected to begin camping out on Friday night in the street in front of St Peter’s Basilica ahead of the funeral.

Italian prison administrators announced on Thursday that some prisoners may be granted permission to attend the service.

After the funeral at St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis requested that his body be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is outside the Vatican walls, a few miles away.

The Vatican Press Office has said a group of “poor and needy” will be on the steps of the Basilica to pay their respects.

A number of books of condolence have been opened across Northern Ireland following the Pope’s death.

On Wednesday, Belfast Lord Mayor Mickey Murray and Father Tim Bartlett, who was one of the organiser’s of Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland in 2018, were among the first to sign the book at Belfast City Hall.

Belfast City Hall will also be illuminated in yellow and white on Saturday to coincide with the day of his funeral.

In Londonderry, the public can leave a written message at the city’s Guildhall, the Alley Theatre in Strabane or online.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Mid Ulster Council have also opened online books of condolence.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis, who was elected in 2013, died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, following weeks of ill health.

He was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican said he died following a stroke, less than 24 hours after appearing in a wheelchair at St Peter’s Square to lead an Easter address in front of thousands of worshipers.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners, as well as world leaders, are expected to attend the late pontiff’s funeral in front of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday.

It is set to begin at 09:00 BST (10:00 local time).

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will travel to the Vatican for the funeral, as well as Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin and Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has confirmed she would not be attending.