Rome prepares for burial crowd, gathering of world leaders and pilgrims
4/22/2025 5:55:28 PM
Pope Francis wanted to be known as the priest of the streets. However, you can’t get away from the fact that a pope’s burial is a huge occasion.
And the guest list proves it: US President Donald Trump; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; leaders of the UK, France; the EU commission’s chief; and many other world leaders.
But it’s not just the politicians – it is also thousands of thousands of pilgrims expected to come to Rome to pay their respects.
Authorities here in Rome have been preparing for a huge influx of people. Transport links have been beefed up as well as transports between airports and the city’s centre.
What is quite interesting is how international the makeup of the crowd is – people from all over the world.
It is testament of Pope Francis’s work to really embolden far and wide the dioceses of the Catholic Church, not just focusing on Europe, but strengthening the church in countries across Africa and Asia, where he was greatly popular.
And the guest list proves it: US President Donald Trump; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; leaders of the UK, France; the EU commission’s chief; and many other world leaders.
But it’s not just the politicians – it is also thousands of thousands of pilgrims expected to come to Rome to pay their respects.
Authorities here in Rome have been preparing for a huge influx of people. Transport links have been beefed up as well as transports between airports and the city’s centre.
What is quite interesting is how international the makeup of the crowd is – people from all over the world.
It is testament of Pope Francis’s work to really embolden far and wide the dioceses of the Catholic Church, not just focusing on Europe, but strengthening the church in countries across Africa and Asia, where he was greatly popular.