By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will leave Manila Thursday evening to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, according to Malacañang.
“Mamayang gabi po ang pag-alis ng First Couple (The First Couple leaves tonight),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
The First Couple will attend the Pope’s funeral at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday at 10 a.m. there (4 p.m. Manila time), she added.
In a separate statement, Malacañang said the President and the First Lady will convey the thoughts and prayers of the Filipino people, who fondly recall Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines in 2015, his compassion, and his life of humility and service to the world.
After the service, Pope Francis’ remains will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica and later entombed at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
The pontiff died at age 88 due to a stroke and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse on Monday.
Aside from the President, around 170 dignitaries, including world leaders, who will reportedly attend the late Pope’s funeral include United States President Donald Trump; French President Emmanuel Macron; European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; German President Frank Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Argentinian President Javier Gerardo Milei, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Prince William will also attend on behalf of his father, King Charles III.
Pope Francis visited the Philippines, Asia’s largest Catholic nation, in 2015.
Marcos has declared a period of national mourning in the entire country, ordering Philippine flags to be flown at half-mast in all government buildings and installations until the pontiff’s burial. (PNA)
