In his will, Francis revealed that the suffering that became present in the last part of his life "he offered to the Lord for world peace and fraternity among peoples." His Pontificate was characterized by meeting with leaders of all kinds, and his funeral will be the culmination of that way of understanding the world. A gathering that will bring together Heads of State - who hold the power to achieve the peace and fraternity among peoples that Francis yearned for - and representatives of monarchies of nations where Catholicism does not even prevail, or politicians who were ideologically distant from him in life. An almost informal 'summit' in a turbulent moment in which the old and new international order are destined to find common ground.
The Pontiff's last high-level meeting was on Easter Sunday with the Vice President of the US, J.D. Vance, and it will be the country's President, Donald Trump, who will attend the ceremony on Saturday with his wife, Melania.
The Argentine delegation will be substantial, his country of origin where there was always a pending 'visit.' Javier Milei, not very close to the Pope, will attend with his sister Karina, who is also the Secretary-General of the Presidency, and several ministers. The Latin American subcontinent will also be represented by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the First Lady Janja, and the recently elected Daniel Noboa from Ecuador.
Confirmations of the personalities began to be confirmed yesterday and are still coming, so there are still uncertainties to be resolved regarding the absences and attendances from the region where he was born.
European representatives will indeed attend the Pope's funeral in large numbers. Of course, Italy, with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Portugal will send President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, National Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar Branco, and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.
The UK, now a link between the US and Europe thanks to that historic transatlantic friendship, will be represented by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William, despite their Anglican Church affiliation. From Ireland, President Micheal D. Higgins, Prime Minister Micheál Martin, and Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris will attend.
Although France upholds secularism, President Emmanuel Macron - also one of the leaders alongside Starmer supporting Ukraine and the 'volunteer coalition' - will bid his final farewell to the Pontiff. He will travel with Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Precisely, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski is one of the confirmed personalities. Francis supported the cessation of hostilities between his country and Russia, as he did with the Gaza war.
Saturday's event will not be a good time to reconcile positions among all those involved in the Ukraine negotiations because Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Rome.
Other European 'engines,' such as Germany, will send President Frank Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The list of European representatives is extensive: Prince Albert II and his wife Charlène (Monaco); President Andrzej Duda and Parliament President Szymon Holownia (Poland); King Felipe and Queen Mathilde and Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Belgium); Head of Government Christian Stocker (Austria); President Tamas Sulyok (Hungary); Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Czech Republic); Acting President Ilie Bolojan (Romania), President Natasa Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob (Slovenia); President Peter Pellegrini (Slovakia); President Gitanas Nauseda (Lithuania); President Edgars Rinkevics (Latvia); President Alar Karis (Estonia); President Maia Sandu (Moldova); President Vjosa Osmani (Kosovo); Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Chancellor Caspar Veldkamp and King Willem-Alexander (Netherlands); Crown Princes Haakon and Mette-Marit and Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide (Norway)...
Most countries send a joint delegation between the Head of State and Government. Spain, on the other hand, will only send King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Vice Presidents María Jesús Montero and Yolanda Díaz, Presidency Minister Félix Bolaños; and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo. President Pedro Sánchez will not be among the world leaders gathering in Rome.
From international organizations, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will be the EU's 'faces' present. On the UN side, Secretary-General António Guterres will not be absent.
Distant nations will also not miss the big 'summit' on Saturday. The Philippines has already confirmed its attendance, with President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos.
From Oceania, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and Minister of Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, will represent the Australian government of Anthony Albanese.