Montenegro’s head of state, Jakov Milatović, is set to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, which will take place on Saturday in Rome, as reported by the President’s office to ”Vijesti”.

The funeral for Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Monday, will commence on Saturday at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Following the ceremony, the coffin will be moved to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome for the official funeral, as stated by the Vatican.

In his will, Pope Francis indicated his desire to be interred in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in contrast to many of his predecessors who were buried in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Francis succumbed after battling illness for several months, with Vatican doctors attributing his death to a stroke.

The Government has not responded to inquiries from “Vijesti” regarding the attendance of any officials at the funeral. Unofficial reports suggest that no representatives from the executive branch may attend, as Prime Minister Milojko Spajić will be in Washington for an official visit until April 28, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović has an official commitment in North Macedonia from today until April 26.

When approached by ”Vijesti” about attendance at Pope Francis’ funeral, the Assembly also did not provide a response. However, vice-president Nikola Camaj (Albanian Forum) indicated that at least one representative from the highest legislative body would indeed travel to Rome.

The funeral is expected to draw many world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council head Antonio Koštu.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince of Wales William are also expected to attend, along with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Reports also state that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is anticipated to be present.

Other notable attendees include Argentine President Javier Milei, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and several royals such as Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prince Albert II of Monaco with his wife Charlene.

From the region, the attendance of Croatian President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, as well as Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob, has been confirmed.

The Public Order and Security Committee of the Prefecture of Rome, led by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, has projected that over 200,000 people will gather in St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects to Pope Francis on Saturday morning.

The first pope from Latin America, unafraid to confront issues

Birthed as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in the working-class neighborhood of Flores, Buenos Aires, Francis came from an Italian immigrant family. He made history as the first pope from Latin America and the Western Hemisphere, as well as the first non-European pontiff since Gregory III, who reigned from 731 to 741.

His ascension to the papacy on March 13, 2013, marked a shift in Roman Catholicism’s focus from its historical European stronghold to the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, according to the Financial Times.

Much like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Francis contended with the legacy of John Paul II (1978–2005), who faced numerous challenges, including financial scandals and sexual abuse cases within the Church, along with issues related to doctrine and the concentrated authority of the Church under his reign.

Known for his humble lifestyle, Francis chose his papal name to honor St. Francis of Assisi’s humility but was not afraid to address adversaries and voice his perspective on contemporary issues.

In his final months, he notably criticized the Trump administration’s “mass deportations” of migrants. In a letter to U.S. bishops, interpreted by some as a critique of J.D. Vance, Trump’s Catholic vice president, he condemned associating the illegal status of migrants with criminal behavior. Pope Francis received Vance for a brief meeting shortly before his death on Easter Monday, during which church officials communicated Vatican concerns regarding U.S. immigration policies.

To address divisions and outline a future direction, Francis convened a synod of senior prelates and laypeople in October 2023 to discuss significant issues affecting the Church and its 1.39 billion followers worldwide, according to Vatican estimates from 2022. One of the key recommendations emerging from the synod was a push for greater involvement of women in Church leadership, though it remained a suggestion for the pope’s consideration.

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