VATICAN — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis following the pontiff’s passing on Easter Monday.
The news broke via Trump’s Truth Social account Monday evening, where he shared a short post confirming his travel plans alongside First Lady Melania Trump.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” he wrote.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend Pope Francis’ funeral, the president announced Monday in a post on Truth Social. “We look forward to being there!” Trump wrote. Follow live updates: abcnews.link/TCbXv3W
A Farewell to a Global Spiritual Leader
The Vatican confirmed the passing of Pope Francis early Monday morning. According to Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the pope died peacefully in his residence at Casa Santa Marta, within Vatican City. He was 88.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, made history as the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His papacy was marked by calls for humility, compassion, and modernization within the Catholic Church.
The timing of his death on Easter Monday—a day symbolizing renewal and hope in Christianity—has deepened the poignancy of his departure.
Trump Orders U.S. Flags at Half-Mast
In response to the pontiff’s passing, Trump ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across all U.S. public buildings on the day of the funeral.
President Trump: “I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them federal and state flags, at half-mast in honor of Pope Francis. He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world.” Follow: @AFpost
Global leaders and dignitaries are expected to attend the service in Rome, paying their final respects to the late pope.
The gesture of lowering the flags is one often reserved for heads of state and figures of major global influence—underlining Pope Francis’s significance even beyond the walls of the Vatican.
Global Reaction and What Comes Next
The announcement of the pope’s passing has triggered an outpouring of tributes from religious leaders, politicians, and citizens worldwide.
Vatican watchers anticipate a massive turnout at the funeral, reminiscent of the crowds that gathered for Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005.
The College of Cardinals will now be tasked with organizing the papal conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor. In the meantime, the Vatican has entered a mourning period, with memorial Masses scheduled globally.
As Trump prepares to travel to Rome, his public acknowledgment underscores the influence Pope Francis had not only in the Catholic world but across international politics and interfaith dialogue.
In a time of global fragmentation, the life and legacy of Pope Francis stand as a reminder of the unifying power of compassion, dialogue, and service.
Stay with us for more updates on the funeral arrangements and reflections on Pope Francis’s enduring impact.
