President Trump confirmed Monday that he and his wife, Melania, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City later this week.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome,” Trump, 78, posted on Truth Social. “We look forward to being there!”
Hours earlier, Trump had ordered all US flags at government buildings, military posts and naval vessels be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of the late pontiff’s burial.
The funeral and interment of Francis, who died early Monday at the age of 88, must take place between four and six days after his death, though the exact schedule has yet to be finalized.
Hours after the pope’s death Monday morning, Trump told reporters “I don’t know yet” when asked if he would go to the funeral.
“We’re going to be briefed on it right now,” he said. “… I just have to look at the timing.”
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“He was a very good man who loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time and that’s good with me,” the president added when asked how he would remember Francis, whom Trump met during his first term in 2017.
Then-President George W. Bush and his wife Laura attended the 2005 funeral of John Paul II, the most recent pope to die in office.
The Bushes were accompanied by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.
The full US delegation to Francis’ funeral is expected to be announced later this week. Francis’ immediate predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned the papacy in February 2013, almost a full decade before his death on New Year’s Eve 2022.
