Trump confirms he and Melania will attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has announced that he and first lady Melania Trump will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88.

The first Latin American pontiff in history died at 7.35 am on Monday, April 21, following a stroke and subsequent heart failure, according to the BBC.

The pope's death comes just days after he was released from the hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for a lingering infection.

Donald Trump says he will attend Pope Francis' funeral with Melania

Donald Trump confirmed on Monday on Truth Social that he and first lady Melania Trump will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. We look forward to being there!” he wrote.

Earlier that day, Trump paid a tribute to Pope Francis and wrote, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”

Soon, Trump ordered all US flags at government buildings, military installations, and naval vessels to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Pope Francis’ burial.

Later, while speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll, he praised the late pontiff as “a very good man who loved, loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time.” He added, “And that’s good with me,” according to CBS News.

Pope Francis' final wishes depart from centuries of tradition as he requested a simple burial “in the ground, without particular decoration,” with only his papal name in Latin, Franciscus, inscribed. The burial site hasn’t been used since the 1600s when Pope Clement IX was laid to rest there, CBS News reported.

A nine-day mourning period known as Novendiale is now underway. Notably, Francis died just one day after meeting with Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago.

According to Politico, the pope’s body will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, and his funeral is expected to take place in St Peter’s Square between the fourth and sixth day after his passing to accommodate the vast number of mourners.

Trump, who first met Pope Francis during his 2017 visit to the Vatican, reflected on the pontiff’s legacy just hours after his death.

Donald Trump's plan to attend Pope Francis' funeral sparks discussion online

After news broke of Trump’s plans to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, many internet users took to social media to express their views on the same. While some praised the president on Truth Social for the gesture, others criticized his decision. 

One user wrote, "The hardest working man in America! #Truth #MAGA #SaveAmerica #AmericaFirst 🇺🇸❤️."

Another shared, "May Lord have mercy on Pope Francis and his family."

One commenter said, "Thank you President Trump! We just don’t deserve you! 🙏🏻🇺🇸❤️." Another asked, "Why? Send someone else to represent you, too dangerous. MAGA!"

One person remarked, "There ist nothing you and Pope Francis had in common. He was a decent, moral and humble person with deep rooted human convictions. You are a vicious, immoral, self righteous person without any ethics." 

Another remarked on X, "“We look forward to being there” — said with all the solemnity of a mall Santa confirming his shift. Who knew obituaries could double as vacation brochures for the tackiest tourists alive?"

One individual commented, "It's a funeral, dude. It's not about you or Melania. sheesh."

Another wrote, "Bold choice of words for a funeral. Most people mourn the Pope, not pencil it in like it’s a wine tasting in Vatican City."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.