Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to travel to the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, a source familiar with the president’s plans told reporters, European Pravda reported.
Pope Francis died at age 88 on April 21 at 7:35 a.m. at his Vatican residence. The Vatican said the cause of death was a stroke.
The funeral is scheduled for April 26 at 10 a.m. local time and will be held in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have confirmed attendance, marking the first foreign visit of Trump’s second term. French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to attend.
Zelensky last met Pope Francis during an official visit to the Vatican on Oct. 11, 2024, where he gifted the pontiff an oil painting titled “The Bucha Massacre – the Story of Marichka,” a tribute to the victims of Russian war crimes in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.
Following the pope’s death, Zelensky expressed his condolences, saying, “He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”
Pope Francis was vocal throughout the Russia-Ukraine war, consistently calling for peace. However, some of his comments – including describing Ukraine and Russia as “brothers” - drew criticism from Ukrainian officials who viewed them as downplaying Russian aggression.
Ukraine has, however, supported Pope Francis’s proposal of an all-for-all prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.
“I renew my appeal for a general exchange of all the prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, assuring the willingness of the Holy See to favor any effort in this regard, especially for those who are gravely injured and ill,” the Pope had said after praying the “Regina Coeli” in St. Peter’s Square last summer.